Vinaigrette
Probably by John Lawrence & Co. British
Not on view
The firm of John Lawrence & Co., Frederick Street, Birmingham, was registered in April 1813 and are the probable makers of this vinaigrette. Of oblong form, the lid is engraved with foliage and flowers. The central reserve provided for the inscription of initials of a name to personalize the item has been left blank.
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 grill 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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