There's just something about a big oval tray that whispers "family style." It's perfect for when we want to (gently) encourage family and friends to help themselves. We worked hard to get this form right, and it was worth it. Oval platters tuck in so nicely between other vessels on the table, and we wanted to provide more options to our servingware pieces. Thinking outside the box, this platter could make a great entryway catch-all for keys, mail, and a candle or two.