Sauce boats are vessels used to serve sauce. They are a natural part of any tableware arraignment and large table services had up to four pairs on a single table.
The earliest known sauce boat was made back in 1698. Early silver sauce boats were low and plain looking. They had an oval-body with double spouts, handles, and a molded foot. The style changed in the latter part of the 18th century. The newer styles were boat-shaped with three feet and only one spout on the opposite side of the handle.
Sauce boats were popular and widely produced until the sauce tureen was invented. Sauce tureens are essentially smaller versions of soup tureens.
Value
Antique silver sauce boats can sell for hundreds of dollars. Some of the later sauce boats are silver plated and thus not as valuable.
Sources:
The Book of Old Silver