(2) European Sterling Silver Vinaigrettes - 1.150 ozt..

Pair of small sterling silver vinaigrettes or powder boxes, one with repoussé floral design, one with engraved horizontal bars on lid.

Size: 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 in.

Weight: 1.150 ozt.

Vinaigrette boxes, popular from the late 18th to the mid-19th century, were small, often intricately crafted containers designed to hold a piece of sponge or cotton soaked in aromatic vinegar or perfume, used to mask unpleasant odors and revive fainting individuals in an era before modern sanitation. Typically made of silver or gold and featuring hinged lids with pierced inner grills, these boxes were both practical and ornamental, frequently adorned with engraving, repoussé work, or enamel decoration. Carried in pockets or reticules, they reflected personal refinement and social etiquette, serving as discreet accessories in both public and private settings. Today, vinaigrette boxes are prized by collectors for their delicate workmanship, variety of designs, and the glimpse they offer into the sensory and social habits of the Georgian and Victorian periods.

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