Vinaigrette
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.
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