Originally, this sauce boat would have been part of an extensive miniature creamware dinner service presented to some lucky little girl as either a toy or aid for practicing domestic customs. Concentric swirls in relief complement the shell-like curves of the vessel's profile. A variation of the feather edge treatment, utilizing rows of short raised ribs, finishes the upper edge. These details indicate an eighteenth century production date.

Our references note that the earliest documented examples of creamware known date to the early 1740's although references generally give prodction dates starting around 1760.  Formerly in the Harry Root collection, a date of c. 1760 was given at the time of the collection sale. 

While today the adult version of  this piece might be labeled a gravy boat, that term did not come into general usage until the 1890's.  At the time, these pieces were called either sauceboats or butter boats (reflecting one of the main components of eighteenth century sauces).