Why are there Covered Compotes with Lids?
Compotes with lids were made and sold for desserts or fruits that had liquids, like strawberries or rhubarb. Open compotes were to serve apples, oranges, pears, etc. Any foods that had their own protective cover, like the skin on apples was safe to leave in the open. In the Victorian period, houses had poor screen windows and doors, making bugs and flies a problem. The Covered Compotes would keep the insects away from the liquid or cooked food. The open compotes would normally sit in the center of the dining table all day, available for a snack anytime.
