A pair of Worcester sauceboats, circa 1754A pair of Worcester sauceboats, circa 1754Crisply moulded with two shell shaped lips and double rococo scroll handles with flattened thumbrests, the sides embossed with leaf chain garlands forming small panels of enamelled flowers, the interiors both painted with a Chinoiserie scene of a man holding a vase standing by a fence while a young boy runs away in surprise, 18.5cm and 19cm long (2)ProvenanceMoult CollectionBrenda Dunning CollectionExhibitedWorcester Porcelain 1751-1900, Dyson Perrins Museum loan exhibition, 1995, fig.16This exceptional pair appears to pre-date any other recorded example of the shape with enamelled decoration. The rarity of such pieces is surprising in view of the popularity of blue and white two-handled sauceboats, but may be explained by the placing of the principal decoration inside the base of the sauceboat, where it would have been vulnerable to wear during use with rich sauces.