Vinaigrette
1815â16
Classification
containers
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles W. Lester
Accession Number
1964-15-3-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Vinaigrette by John Shaw (1815–16)** into the refined world of early 19th-century America with John Shaw's *Vina*, a delicate personal container crafted around 1815–16. Vinaigrettes like this were essential accessories for gentlemen and ladies alike, designed to hold aromatic vinegar or smelling salts. These portable scent boxes offered a discreet shield against urban odors or the vapors that might induce fainting—a common concern in an era before modern hygiene. Produced during the optimistic years following the War of 1812, this piece reflects the growing sophistication of American craft...