A silver sauce boat which I recently bought at auction in the US arrived this morning. It really had my name all over it - or at least the principal initials that I use, so it seemed destined to end up with the pile of silverware which isn't getting quite the use it once did, and indeed should again.
I now have three sauce boats, one in ironstone with a gilded dolphin handle, (which is part of a large service at my parent's house; the other piece of that service is the centrepiece of my dining table here). And the other silver carriage in the gravy train is an Art Deco jug, which was a wedding present to my parents and which my mother offered to me shortly before she died ten years ago. I used it for gravy, but I think it was really intended for cream, or something pudding-related.
This morning's arrival came in substantial packaging, which I suppose caters for the better safe than sorry m.o., but it did mean it attracted Customs, and therefore duty of 20%, (another little gravy train for the operators of that enterprise).
16 comments:
Hi Columnist,
Which auction house did you get this from? It is very chic...
Does customs open the box and check out the receipt or invoice to charge you the 20%? Do things ever get through without scrutiny?
Your new sauce boat has an elegant shape with crisp details. I hope you get a lot of good use out of it.
It's odd, but I can't recall ever using our own sauce boats; I guess no one in my family is big on gravy or sauces.
Diogenes - Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches.
No, customs didn't open this, but the shipper puts the price on the documents and they assess based on that. Sometimes things get through without duty, but there is no rhyme or reason. At least this is properly receipted, whereas some of these transactions are "ad hoc" shall we say. I was expecting arrival today, based on the tracking, but the PO delivered a note saying it was available for collection at some out of the way location. But luckily I managed to collar the building manager, and she dealt with it for me with our messenger, (including another little add on for that!)
Parnassus - it is rather elegant, and I had been hankering after one, as we do make gravy, and when it's just us eating in the kitchen it has been the pyrex measuring jug, but there's no reason not to use prettier stuff if it's there, (and clean!). The dining table silver, (salts and pepper mills), were looking rather tarnished, so cleaning duty will have to be stepped up a bit methinks.
What a pretty sauce boat! I'm rather partial to sauces and I use our sauce boats with some frequency. Those and small jugs for delicious creams for pouring over desserts (or as I suspect you say "puddings"). Reggie
Yes indeed Reggie, pudding vs. desserts. The eternal pond thingie.
Just lovely!
Thanks AR. I must say I am quite pleased with it, and a little intrigued by its origins, although I know it's American and in the style of George III. But it's amusing to have it correctly initialled for me.
It is a handsome piece, and how wonderful for it to come with your own monogram. But watch out! Now that you have three gravy boats, you've got a collection.
Mark - shock horror, no! Not a collection. I am guilty of that in other areas, however.
That is a lovely sauce boat.
Now that I have gone head to head with the corrupt sherriff, I am sure there is a copper jacketed slug of lead antimony with my initials on it somewhere close...
Well, as long as it's not close enough to your head, or any other part of your person, for that matter. I'm sure you've seen enough of the local gravy train system to understand my allusional drivel...
I suppose it was to be expected. The work force have just pitched up to inform me that the building site has been robbed. I am just about to drive up there and do an inventory of the losses. Bastards, they haven't even the guts to square up to me so go for these cheap shots.
The idea of finishing this place of then selling it and going to the Caribbean is becoming increasingly attractive...
Oh FFS. It's a never ending story, in the very worst possible way, and you do have my sympathies, but as you indicate in your own doubts, is it going to be worth an endless struggle?
What a very smart sauceboat, the curvaceous rythym of its form is quite enchanting.
On another matter, I wonder if you received my email so as to receive your address (and arrange to have another parcel sent to you). It may have gone to your spam folder? Please let me know when you have a moment.
IA - yes, I did receive your email and I thought I'd replied to it, but I just checked now, and I haven't. Just responding now, so hope you receive.
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