Vinaigrette box 1807

This petite vinaigrette box, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was crafted by John Shaw, who lived from 1750 to 1850. These boxes, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, were more than mere accessories. They were a statement of societal norms, class, and gender. Think about the powdered wigs, the restrictive corsets, and the elaborate social rituals of the era. A vinaigrette box was a means to navigate the unhygienic realities of urban life, and a shield against overwhelming scents, or a sign of delicate femininity. This small silver box represents the intersection of personal experience and broader social history. It evokes questions about the experiences of women in that era, and highlights the challenges and constraints they faced, versus the freedoms they were allowed. What does it mean to carry around a defense against the world? The box stands as a reminder of the intricate dance between personal identity and societal expectations, reflecting both the resilience and the constraints of the time.