This translucent porcelain invalid feeder or infant feeder can be used to trickle small amounts of thin soup, gruel or porridge into the mouth of someone incapable of feeding himself. These feeders are variably called pap boats, gruel feeders, infant feeders or invalid feeders. They are NOT gravy boats, however. I purchased this one from an antique store in a small village when I was in England in 2001. The gold decoration is well worn, but remarkably, the narrow spout has no chips from use. The handle is on the side to allow the caretaker to control the flow of the contents more accurately as they are delivered to the infant or the invalid. The base has only an incised number 2. There are no chips or cracks.