Vinaigrette box 1819

This silver vinaigrette box was crafted by Joseph Willmore, likely during the late 18th or early 19th century, a period of intricate personal adornment. These boxes, popular among upper-class women, held a sponge soaked in vinegar and aromatic oils, intended to ward off unpleasant odors. In a time when public sanitation was poor, and social interactions were close, such a device speaks volumes about the anxieties and class distinctions surrounding the body. Consider the implications of needing to carry around a shield against the smells of the city. It reveals a sensitivity, and perhaps a privilege, to avoid the olfactory experiences of everyday life for many. The box, though small, is a telling artifact of the era’s social and hygienic norms, reflecting a world where even the air one breathed was a marker of status.