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Small rectangular box known as vinaigrette * in 18 carat solid gold, finely chiseled, decorated with flowers, cut citrine lid, from late 18th to early 19th centuries.
This box is in good condition and is of remarkable quality. No hallmark but has been tested with 18K gold.
Please note: the internal hinge is broken, some micro-scratches and slight wear and tear during time, see photos.
is a scent box, taking its name from the aromatic vinegar soaking a small sponge hidden under its grid, in order to revive the elegant vapors. In vogue in the 18th century, this charming object was also in the 19th, the corset compressing the sizes more than ever, to the point of cutting breath. Always within reach of high society women, it must be both discreet and elegant like a jewel. If its most awaited shape is that of the box or the small bottle, the beautiful accessory bends to all fantasies. It can thus take on the appearance of a basket or a handbag, a fish or a miniature book, when it is not hidden in a cane, a face-to-hand, a ring or the cover of an evening purse! (See Gazette Drouot website)
