Rare Antique Early 18th Century Continental Silver Vinaigrette / Pomander C. This is a fabulous and rare survivor from the early 18th century, circa 1700 – 1720. This attractive little box is an early form of vinaigrette or pomander and would of contained forms of perfume such as fragrant herbs, ambergris or scented resins. The box is round in form and made in two parts, with the lid simply pushing into place. The lid has been decorated in the repousse manner and has chased detailing to the upper side – as can be seen in the images, this takes the form of foliage, a bird and what appears to be a pomegranate. Around the outside edge of the lid is a decorative frill border, which seems to be a common feature on these types of early boxes. Importantly, the silver has been pierced through so that the enclosed scent can be accessed without removing the lid. Sanitation and general hygiene in the 16th century through to the 19th century was a world away from what it is now, and the putrid stench of streets awash with waste and general detritus meant that devices such as this were essential for ladies and gents of standing. A waft under the nose might prevent a lady’falling into a swoon’. The inside of the box shows traces of its original gilding, put there primarily as a protection for the silver from any potential corrosive qualities of the perfume – this gilding is more apparent to the inside of the lid. As is commonly seen with these early vinaigrette’s, there are no marks whatsoever to the silver. I actually took some specialist advice from a well known expert in early silver and it was his opinion that the piece was either Dutch or German, with him actually favouring it being German on account of the style of repousee work (if you’d like to know who I consulted, please contact me). The advised date of the item is circa 1700 – 1720, though some similar examples have an earlier attribution of circa 1680. It’s an incredible survivor from the era of the last of the Stuart monarchs, Queen Anne or the Hanoverian, George I. The box measures 5cm x 5cm x 1cm – the total unpacked weight is 13.6g. The condition all round is excellent for its age. There are some minor contact pin head sized bumps to the underside, plus an extremely minor edge knock to the rim of the base (see picture 9). There are no splits or repairs to the silver. The lid fits on snugly and retains a good shape. All round a very nice and rare example for a collector. Please study the images provided to satisfy yourself as to the condition of the item offered here – if you have any further questions please ask. The item “Rare Antique Early 18th Century Continental Silver Vinaigrette / Pomander C. 1700″ is in sale since Thursday, July 11, 2019. This item is in the category “Antiques\Silver\Solid Silver\Vinaigrettes”. The seller is “century-antiques-uk” and is located in Wigston. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Queen Anne Silver: Queen Anne Silver Vinaigrette
- Antique Dutch Silver: Dutch Silver Vinaigrette
- Early 18th Century Pomander: Early 18th Century Vinaigrette
- Antique German Silver: German Silver Vinaigrette
- Product: Vinaigrettes
- Age: Pre-1800
- Composition: Solid Silver
- Antique Silver Pomander: Antique Silver Vinaigrette
- George I Silver: George I Silver Vinaigrette
