Vinaigrette box 1830

This small, silver vinaigrette box, created by Thomas Shaw in 1830, is a fine example of 19th-century craftsmanship. The box, which is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is decorated with an intricate, woven pattern and features a rectangular, engraved plaque with the inscription "Taylor." Vinaigrettes were small, portable containers filled with scented vinegar or salts used to ward off unpleasant odors.