Georgian Turquoise Vinaigrette Locket

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Georgian Turquoise Vinaigrette Locket

$1,300.00

Description

DATE: Georgian, c.1820

A wonderful antique vinaigrette locket, dating from the Georgian period, circa 1820. It features applied canatille-work along with a turquoise cabochon flower to the front. The back with a single stone. It opens to reveal an intricately worked grille that opens, allowing perfume-soaked piece of fabric or sponge to be kept inside. You can still smell the powdery scent now!

In present-day society, personal hygiene is a very high priority, period. Personal hygiene, however, was not always so important. Prior to the introduction of soaps, and their easy accessibility, people needed a reliable means to mask the varied smells and odours wafting through their environment. Used by both men and women, vinaigrettes were worn and many aromatic herbs such as sage, cinnamon, lavender, mint, and rosemary, mixed with alcohol and acetic acid were used to create a pleasant perfume. Not only did these scents provide protection from bad odours but, it was believed that when the sponge was soaked only in vinegar it could help prevent the wearer from fainting.

STONES

Turquoise

MEASUREMENTS

2.1 x 1.9cm

WEIGHT

5.4g

MARKS

No marks present, tests as 15k gold

CONDITION

Very good, light wear commensurate with age