Vinaigrette box
1819
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Length: 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, Birmingham
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Herbert K. Reis, in memory of Rose-Frances K. Reis (Mrs. Ralph A. Reis), 1983
Accession Number
1983.575.42
Art Historical Context
This exquisite vinaigrette box, crafted by Birmingham silversmith Joseph Willmore in 181, exemplifies the refined metalwork of Regency-era Britain. Measuring just 1 1/4 inches in length, this pocket-sized silver container was designed to hold aromatic vinegar or spiced substances, offering a discreet shield against the era's pervasive urban odors before modern sanitation. Vinaigrettes like this were essential accessories for gentlemen and ladies alike, blending practicality with elegant design in Birmingham's thriving silver trade, a hub of industrial innovation. Willmore, a skilled artisan f...