Gravy ladle. © Denzil Green / 2009
Gravy ladles are small ladles for use at the table meant for serving gravy.
Typically, they are meant to rest in a gravy boat, and are used by the person whose plate the gravy is being put on.
They have largish bowls at the end of their handles: you scoop up some gravy from the gravy boat, and pour gravy from the bowl of the spoon onto the food on your plate.
Some may have spouts on one or both sides to ease pouring of sauce from the bowl of the ladle. Capacity of the bowl can vary, usually from 30 to 120 ml (1 to 4 oz).
The ladles are usually made of a metal such as silver but can also be stainless. The handle may be a simple, plain one, or elaborately designed to match the rest of a utensils set.
Gravy ladles can be pressed into service for all kinds of sauces, not just gravy, that guests might take in some quantity.
Commercial ones meant for catered buffets may be larger, and may be meant to used by someone servicing customers passing along a buffet line.