Auction Items

Vinaigrette – a bottle for smelling salts or toilet vinegar.

Vinaigrettes appeared in the late 18th century as a replacement for pomanders (containers for musk, perfume, and spices). A small piece of cotton wool or sponge soaked in vinegar was placed in a small container. Fashionable women of the time, fainting due to tight corsets or suffering from anemia, were given vinaigrettes to smell to revive them. Judging by books by past authors, the name “vinaigrette” was not used in Russia, but smelling salt bottles were common.

The vinaigrette was equipped with a grid or mesh to prevent the sponge from falling out when the container was opened. The cork had to close securely when not in use. Over time, the container’s appearance acquired rich and intricate decoration, becoming a piece of jewelry. The lid was decorated with engraving, embossing, enamel, and sometimes even precious stones. The cork was eventually replaced by a smooth-operating spring lid.