I absolutely adore the faded beauty of the  design and the aging that has make this French sauce boat unique.
 
The design is in pale blue transferwarenon creamy ironstone, showing a palace framed with a flourish, a delightful design around the rim of both the boat and its (attached) saucer and, I think my favourite, flocks of birds inside the bowl and around the saucer.
 
It for me encapsulates summer, French relaxed chic and it looks wonderful styled with shells and other beach colours.
 
The base is stamped 1900 and I imagine it dates from this era. 
 
This saucière shows its age, there is gentle staining throughout and especially beautiful inside the bowl. The crazing is also gentle however there are a couple of areas on the saucer which are darkened in the crazing. There are three very small chips on the inside of the rim.
 
It measures 10" long and 4" tall.