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Palais Royale Mother of Pearl Vinaigrette
- This delightful gold and mother of pearl vinaigrette is ripe with 19th-century charm
- The combination of mother of pearl and gold was exceptionally rare for this era
- The book-shaped vinaigrette almost certainly belonged to a high-class reader
- Gentlemen and ladies utilized vinaigrettes to avoid the pungent smells of 19th-century city streets
- Get complete item description here
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Gentlemen and ladies utilized vinaigrettes to avoid the pungent smells of. . .
Gentlemen and ladies utilized vinaigrettes to avoid the pungent smells of 18th- and 19th-century city streets. After placing perfume-soaked materials inside the vessel, wearers would simply lift the vinaigrette to their nose to smell more appealing aromas. With the scented agents held in place by a pierced lid, exquisitely ornate vinaigrettes such as this book-shaped beauty worked to help neutralize the scents of burgeoning city life.
1/2" high by 1 3/8" wide by 7/8" deep

| Period: | 19th Century |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Decorative Boxes |
| Depth: | 0.88 in. (2.22 cm) |
| Width: | 1.38 in. (3.49 cm) |
| Height: | 0.5 in. (1.27 cm) |
Follow Your Nose: A Collector’s Guide to Antique Perfume
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For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.

On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit

125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years

Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists