Vinaigrette c. 1816 - 1817

"Vinaigrette" (c. 1816-1817) is a small, silver, square-shaped box with a decorative engraved pattern. It is ornamented with a border of triangles, with the initial "B" engraved inside a center circle. Vinaigrettes were small, portable containers used to hold scented salts or vinegar to help ward off unpleasant smells or to refresh the senses, and were popular during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This piece is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.