DEAR MISS MANNERS: I recently came across a Victorian-era serving piece described as a “Victorian lobster dish.” I had not previously seen dishes designated for lobster, nor had I seen any that had a lobster figure as the handle of the divided dish, as this one does.

What recipe for lobster would use a fancy, divided serving dish?

GENTLE READER: Lobster and dressing? Lobster salad? Lobster risotto?

This is not the food department, but Miss Manners, who maintains that one does not need elaborate equipment to entertain, is nevertheless charmed by the Victorian craze for specialization. Still, she will not report you if you use it for crab salad.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com ; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com ; or through pos

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