Sauce Tureen thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sauce Tureen

ca. 1790-1795 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Sauce boats became an essential item on the British dinner table around 1720, when French-style sauces became popular. Early examples were open boat-shaped vessels with one or two pouring lips, but later ones were often tureen-shaped and supported on a central foot. Both types could require an under-dish to prevent spillage, and sauce tureens like this one usually had a matching ladle.

Use
The five main sauces introduced by the French were béchamel, brune/espagnol,tomate, mayonnaise and velouté. Gravies made from roasted meat juices flavoured with wine, citrus juice, capers, herbs and spices were also popular in 18th-century Britain. Other sauces had a 'roux' base, made by combining butter or lard with flour and broth or milk, and flavoured with parsley, onions, celery, anchovies, oysters, cockles or eggs. Butter sauces, served in smaller sauce boats or butter boats, frequently accompanied vegetables. A hot sauce of wine, butter and sugar was the most common one for puddings.

Trading
Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) sold his pottery through his London warehouse and from his Staffordshire factory site. He also sold large quantities of pottery to export merchants and agents abroad. In 1774 his creamware catalogue (which was available in both English and French versions) listed sauce boats of a different design at 2s each wholesale.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Tureen
  • Cover
  • Stand
Materials and techniques
Creamware (Queen's Ware), painted in enamels
Brief description
Sauce tureen and stand, made by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, Etruria, ca. 1790-95
Physical description
Creamware sauce tureen with cover and stand, painted with black enamel decoration
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.78cm
Gallery label
  • British Galleries: Robert Adam's use of small, repeating motifs inspired Wedgwood and other manufacturers to decorate their wares with simple patterns of stylised plants or formal classical motifs. By 1814 Wedgwood provided at least 663 such patterns. Creamware tureens of this simple vase-shaped form were still in production in the early 19th century.(27/03/2003)
  • Sauce tureen, cover and stand Made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, 1770-1800 Marks: 'Wedgwood' and lozenge mark, impressed Lead-glazed earthenware, painted in black enamel 344 to B-1854(23/05/2008)
Object history
Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire
Production
Probably 1790-1795
Summary
Object Type
Sauce boats became an essential item on the British dinner table around 1720, when French-style sauces became popular. Early examples were open boat-shaped vessels with one or two pouring lips, but later ones were often tureen-shaped and supported on a central foot. Both types could require an under-dish to prevent spillage, and sauce tureens like this one usually had a matching ladle.

Use
The five main sauces introduced by the French were béchamel, brune/espagnol,tomate, mayonnaise and velouté. Gravies made from roasted meat juices flavoured with wine, citrus juice, capers, herbs and spices were also popular in 18th-century Britain. Other sauces had a 'roux' base, made by combining butter or lard with flour and broth or milk, and flavoured with parsley, onions, celery, anchovies, oysters, cockles or eggs. Butter sauces, served in smaller sauce boats or butter boats, frequently accompanied vegetables. A hot sauce of wine, butter and sugar was the most common one for puddings.

Trading
Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) sold his pottery through his London warehouse and from his Staffordshire factory site. He also sold large quantities of pottery to export merchants and agents abroad. In 1774 his creamware catalogue (which was available in both English and French versions) listed sauce boats of a different design at 2s each wholesale.
Collection
Accession number
344 to B-1854

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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