No poet, no artist of any art, has his complete meaning alone. T.S. Eliot 

{HISTORY}

Pass the gravy! And the storytelling too, please!  Beautifully handpainted, this antique gravy boat features an assortment of interesting details.

Made by the pottery of Alfred Meakin in Tunstall, England in 1891 it features a scalloped edge, a fluted body, a decorative handle, gold detailing, and raised embossing on each flower petal. There's also a little extra stand-out flourish on the bottom as well.

Situated on the left-hand side of the 1800s-era maker's mark is a set of hand-carved initials (J.J.) impressed into the clay. Not altogether unusual, sometimes you see initials or even a whole name painted on the bottom of dishware which signifies who specifically painted each piece. Those pieces and the names they represent are usually painted right onto the dish with delicate brush strokes and a steady hand.  But because these initials are scratched into the clay itself, we suspect this is the mark of the person who actually made this gravy boat. What a detail! Such a personal reminder of the hand-touched artistry and skill involved in 19th-century dish manufacture makes this pretty little gravy boat a very personal representative of the industry itself. 

Still fully functional for purposes as originally intended, it is also a holder for much more than gravy. We love it best for daydreaming about just who exactly this J.J. might have been.  Jenny Johnson? Jacob Jones? Jack Jackson? Josie James? What fun!

As for the pottery company, its history is a little easier to track.  Alfred Meakin started as a family-run business first founded in 1875 in the famous pottery-making region of Tunstall, England. It operated through the 20th century up until 1976 while navigating changes in management and names before it finally came to rest with the Churchill Group in 1991. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Handpainted

- Stamped on bottom with maker's mark and designer's initials 

- Colors include olive, gold, raspberry, almond and chocolate 

- Made of Royal Semi-Porcelain

{CONDITION}

In gorgeous antique condition. There are no chips or cracks. The gold detailing around the rim and handle bears some rub marks in a few places. The interior is very clean and bright. There is some staining on the bottom of the boat surrounding the maker's mark.

{SIZE}

Measures 8" inches (length) x 2.5" inches (width) x 4.5" inches (height)  and weighs 11oz.

{STYLE IDEA}

This gravy boat looks especially gorgeous with this antique platter.