Silver vinaigrette, oval, with hinged lid and J.W., hallmarked in Birmingham, 1809

Vinaigrettes were small, often ornamental containers filled with vinegar. If a person was about to faint, the sharp smell of the vinegar would shock the body into action. They could also carry sweet smelling substances and be used as pomanders. They were carried by both men and women. The container is small enough to be portable and carried in a pocket and may be engraved with the initials of its owner.