Photo Credit: Bs-Books-and-Curios
Georgian Sterling Silver Vinaigrette from 1810
Buy It Now Price: $265 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)
Pros:
-British sensibility melds seamlessly with Regency style in this Georgian sterling silver vinaigrette made by the renowned silversmith Joseph Willmore in Birmingham in 1810.
-This Georgian sterling silver vinaigrette measures 1.625 inches (41 mm) long by 1.125 inches (29 mm) wide by 0.25 inches (6 mm) deep.
-Vinaigrettes were tiny accessory boxes, usually made from silver, that were used to hold aromatic laden sponges. The powerful scent these personal accessories gave off served two purposes. First, they were believed to protect the wearer from diseases spread by foul smelling miasmas. Second, they could be used as smelling salts to quickly revive a woman who had passed out unexpectedly.
-Vinaigrettes were popular from the 1770s until the middle of the 19th century.
-The exterior of this Georgian sterling silver vinaigrette has a very attractive, geometric floral design. It is obvious that the workmanship on this 200 year old piece is simply superb.
-The interior of this specimen has a beautifully engraved, pierced floral grille that is gilt. Gilding was commonly applied to the interiors of silver vinaigrettes to protect them from the acidic effects of the vinegar solution used in the sponge.
-The piece is in relatively good condition. It opens and closes easily and the grille is in good working order. It does, however, have a small dent that is discussed under the “Cons” section.
-This vinaigrette is fully hallmarked and these hallmarks are consistent with the claimed date. One reason that British antique silver is so popular with collectors is because hallmarking was rigorously enforced, making it easy to determine the maker, city and date of manufacture.
-Given this vinaigrette’s excellent craftsmanship, good condition and historical importance, I believe the buy it now price of $265 is fair.
Cons:
-There is a small dent in the bottom, left-hand corner of this vinaigrette. While it must be noted for the sake of completeness, this minor damage should not significantly impact the value of the piece.
-The seller does not disclose the weight of the piece. This is important because heavy gauge silver is often an indication of high quality. It also precludes the calculation of the intrinsic value of the piece. However, this second objection isn’t material because the difference in bullion value between a light and heavy silver vinaigrette is only $5 to $10.
-Silver vinaigrettes are surprisingly small, often no larger than the size of a postage stamp, and this example is no exception. If you are looking for impressive, monumental silver, vinaigrettes are not for you.
