{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O112434"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112434/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BJ4377/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BJ4377/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BJ4377","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BJ4378","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JU6217","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NT8441","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NT8442","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NT8443","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NT8444","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O112434/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O112434","accessionNumber":"M.84:1 to 4-1933","objectType":"Pomander and vinaigrette","titles":[{"title":"Pomander and vinaigrette","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The English word ‘pomander’ derives from the Latin, ‘pomum de ambre’  or ‘amber apple’. Used in England from the 1490s, a pomander was a mixture of fragrant substances kept in a case of gold, silver, ivory or wood. Worn around the neck or at the waist, they were believed to protect their owners against disease. The ancient Romans carried aromatic blends for protection in small containers (pouncet boxes) perforated with holes to allow the aroma to escape.\n\nAs certain spices became associated with the treatment of specific ailments, it was important to keep them separate to prevent contamination. This pomander contains six segmented chambers which are released by a decorative knop that allows the segments to hinge outwards. All the chambers would originally have been sealed with a sliding lid. The decoration of delicately engraved flowers and ornamental dragon evokes both the scent and the potency of the ingredients. Compartments were engraved with the names of ingredients such as rosemary, cinnamon, cloves, ‘schlag’ (a mixture of brandy, primrose petals and violets taken as a cardiac stimulant) nutmeg or ambergris. The perforated base unscrews and would have once held balsam or a small sponge soaked in oils extracted from mint, camphor, cloves and lavender mixed with a vinegar (acetic acid) to produce a stimulating aroma, known as a ‘vinaigrette’. Highly skilled silversmiths would have been required to execute such a complex design. \n\n","physicalDescription":"Silver, ccmbined pomander and vinaigrette, silver and gilded silver, engraved with flowers, arabesques, and surmounted by a dragon-shaped suspension loop. The pomander is divided into six segments, numbered 1 to 6 at the top near the suspension loop. Two of the segments still retain their sliding lids, which are also numbered and engraved with blank scrolls (to be engraved with the name of the perfume that would be stored in the segment). The central shaft of the pomander is engraved with scrolling foliage patterns and gilded, and is also numbered 1 to 6 on the top to correspond with each segment. The vinaigrette at the base unscrews from the pomander; the pierced base is gilded and unscrews in two halves. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"piercing","id":"AAT231153"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, and gilded silver","categories":[{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006BJ4377","2006BJ4378","2017JU6217","2024NT8441","2024NT8442","2024NT8443","2024NT8444"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA014","id":"THES413395"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA014","id":"THES413395"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA014","id":"THES413395"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA014","id":"THES413395"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pomander and vinaigrette combined","id":""}],[{"text":"Cap (closures)","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"west"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1600-1650","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1650-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Misses Dagmar and Gladys Farrant in memory of Arthur Maud Loscombe Wallis","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"6.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"20/02/2024","earliest":"2024-02-20","latest":"2024-02-20"},"part":"foot to finial","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"3.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"20/02/2024","earliest":"2024-02-20","latest":"2024-02-20"},"part":"Across underside of foot/vinaigrette","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Sterckshof Exhibition RF.2010/400","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Combined pomander and vinaigrette, silver, western Europe, 1600-1650","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lincoln, Margarette, ed. <u>Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution</u>. Catalogue of the exhibition held 20 November 2015 - 28 March 2016 at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. London: Thames and Hudson, 2015. ISBN 9780500518144 "},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Thompson, Creswick J. S. <i>The Pomander.  A Link in the History of Preventive Medicine</i>. Évreux [Printed], 1922."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rodini, Elizabeth. 'Functional Jewels.' <i>Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies</i>, vol. 25, no. 2, 2000, pp. 76–106, "},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Schmitz, R. “The Pomander.” <i>Pharmacy in History</i>, vol. 31, no. 2, 1989, pp. 86–90."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Davies, Glyn, et al. <i>Medieval and Renaissance Art : People and Possessions</i>. V & A ; Distributed in North America by Harry N. Abrams, 2009. Particularly chapter 7, 'Protecting the Body, Portraying the Soul' by Kirstin Kennedy."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"flowers","id":"AAT132399"},{"text":"arabesques","id":"AAT10206"},{"text":"dragons","id":"x30096"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.84:1-1933","M.84:2-1933","M.84:3-1933","M.84:4-1933"],"accessionNumberNum":"84","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1933,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Pomander and vinaigrette combined","Cap (closures)","Lid [1]","Lid [2]"],"assets":["2016JJ2564","2019LM9648","2019LN6073","2019LN5671","2019LN4291","2019LN3979","2019LT1064","2019LT1063","2019LT1055","2019LT1043","2019LU7743","2019LU1616","2019LT8294","2019LW9170","2019LW4725","2019LW0186"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-06","recordCreationDate":"2005-05-26","availableToBook":false}}