Here is another view of the item:

Formal dining · More Info

Thanks, pennydesign. Well, it's small enough that the spoon would be salt cellar sized, that is pretty tiny. You can see that the whole piece is no bigger than the spoon of the spaghetti server behind it. The "bowls" on the sides would hold about a tablespoon of something. It really does look more like a toy, something from a doll's tea set, than a proper tabletop item.

But, jam and clotted cream could be an answer. And what would be in the center, honey? with a honey drizzler? (mmm...I'm getting a sugar high just thinking of it) And where is the server spoon for the jam and clotted cream? One uses one's own?

One thing to think about when viewing items that could be children's toys is were they used for bed trays or simply for individual servings. I have seen butter pat dishes being sold as miniature saucers.

However I think that perhaps the lid was a marriage as it appears slightly larger than the opening.

Could be salt and pepper...I wonder if we found out the manufacturer, we would know more? Any marks?

Oh, darn it, I didn't pick it up to look for a mark, it was in a locked case. and I don't expect I'll be going back to that shop too soon. The shopkeeper said that someone else suggested salt and pepper and vinegar, could that work?

The someone else is close -- salt pepper and mustard. The English LOVE their mustard!

Yes, I was thinking a mustard pot with salt and pepper. Jam and cream would be in much larger (proportionally) dishes.

Ah, that makes more sense! salt, pepper, mustard. Mustard in the covered portion? And a wee spoon is missing? I wonder if there were lids for the side bowls, now that I have something to google-search for, I'm seeing mostly enclosed servers.

Here's another one I found on Etsy, in faience; this is amusing! (apparently a resort souvenir, hence the, um, amusing form). Most sets I saw had removable bits, or covers,or perfectly round bowl portions. This does have the bowls flat on one side. But I can imagine collecting these and using them for rings, earrings, desk items, etc. As well as their intended purpose, of course.

Here's another interesting set, with sterling owls. The mustard spoon has a mouse at the end of the handle! I never knew about this kind of set, how fun. Looks like I'll be up for awhile browsing, I'd better make some tea.

and squirrels! Okay, I'll stop sharing now, but I'm certainly having fun.

My friend and I were thinking honey, too, but then the honey would likely drip into the side bowls. Mustard doesn't spill quit like honey does!

Mustard pot and salt and pepper....very traidional small pot with a lid and a slot for a spoon....Had a friend who collected musrtard pots.

In thinking of salt and pepper's. Some of these had salt and pepper shakers that sat inside the cups.

I saw a lot of pictures that had shakers in the cups, so maybe. These cups are rounded on the bottom, but the two straight sides are not as "neat", so it's hard to say. Some had a salt cellar and a pepper shaker. Lots of variety and choices, I guess, depending on the household?

I'm late to the party, but yeah, definitely a condiment holder with a mustard pot in the middle. Europeans are rather fond of mustard.