Vinaigrette box 1798 - 1799

Editor: We're looking at a Vinaigrette box crafted from silver by Thomas Willmore around 1798-1799. It's such a small, unassuming piece. What do you make of this little treasure? Curator: Ah, yes! It's a fascinating object, isn't it? At first glance, it might seem merely a decorative silver box, but think about its purpose. It held scented materials, like vinegar-soaked sponges, you see. Can you imagine life before readily available sanitation and the often overwhelming smells of 18th-century cities? It's an effort to take back control, literally keeping bad odours at bay! It's beautiful escapism made real. Editor: So it's more than just decoration? Curator: Absolutely. The craftsmanship speaks volumes too. Notice the simple elegance, almost Neoclassical in its restraint? It's about form and function, and also, think of the intimate scale. It's something someone carried with them, close to their person – a statement, really. An invisible accessory declaring self-awareness of their surroundings and desires. Isn't it intriguing how an object can reveal so much about a person and an era? What are your impressions? Editor: It does change things to know it had a practical purpose! Now, seeing that it was something someone carried every day makes me wonder who the original owner was. Curator: Precisely! It transforms it from a mere object into a potential story. Editor: That’s a nice consideration, and gives me food for thought. Thanks!