Pair of George III silver sauce boats

A superb pair of heavy quality sterling silver Georgian sauce boats or gravy boats with bead pattern mounts. Each boat is on a cast oval foot which gives a wonderful substantial feel to these pieces, and the bellied bodies are engraved on one side with a family coat of arms. This fine pair is in wonderful condition and each sauce boat will hold about two thirds of a pint.

While some vessels have been identified as being used for sauces since ancient times, the modern fashion for sauce boats probably derived from fashion in the late 17th century French court, and the thermal properties of silver make it superior to porcelain or glass for keeping the sauce or gravy warm.