Tickets
English
DonateMembership
Tickets

Vinaigrette

1811
Not on view
The maker of this vinaigrette, William Pugh, was a prolific maker of small wares, including caddy spoons, snuff boxes and cutlery. The hinged lid of this unusual vinaigrette is set with polished agate; the base is engraved with a panel of basket-weaving.



A vinaigrette was intended to hold a tiny sponge dipped in aromatic vinegar. Its interior Is gilded to protect the silver from oxidation caused by the acidity of the vinegar. A hinged and decoratively pierced inner lid or grille, here engraved with flowers and luxuriant foliage, kept the sponge in place while its perforations allowed the odor to waft through. A whiff of the vinegar might revive someone from a fainting spell. Such vinaigrettes were worn around the neck, on a chatelaine suspended from the waist, or carried in a pocket.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Vinaigrette
  • Maker: William Pugh
  • Date: 1811
  • Culture: British, Birmingham
  • Medium: Silver, agate
  • Dimensions: Length: 1 in. (2.5 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Silver In Combination
  • Credit Line: Gift of Herbert K. Reis, in memory of Rose-Frances K. Reis (Mrs. Ralph A. Reis), 1983
  • Object Number: 1983.575.56
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Medal, Metal
Medal
1821–36
Standing cup with cover, Agate, silver gilt, gold, enamel, rubies, diamond, French, Paris
Standing cup with cover
French, Paris
cup: mid-17th century, finial: 19th–early 20th century
Candlestick, Matthew Boulton British, Sheffield silver plate
Candlestick
Matthew Boulton
ca. 1800
Nécessaire, James Cox British, Case: moss agate, mounted in gold and set with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds; silver; Dial: white enamel, with frame pavé-set with paste jewels, British, London
Nécessaire
Watchmaker: James Cox
ca. 1770–72
Electrotype Reproduction of a 16th Century Italian Shield, Elkington & Co. British, Copper, gold, silver, British, Birmingham
Electrotype Reproduction of a 16th Century Italian Shield
Manufacturer Elkington & Co.
19th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.