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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:42 am    Post subject: Vinaigrettes   I've been collecting vinaigrettes for about 20 years and absolutely love these little hinged boxes. To me, they are such unique little souvenirs of a time long gone. Their peak of popularity was during the Regency. Because of that popularity, they often turn up in Regency romances. I cannot tell you how many times I've cringed when reading of a lady about to swoon and reaching for her vinaigrette, which is then descibed as a little bottle with a stopper. No no no no no no no!!!!!! I don't know if people get vinaigrettes confused with smelling salts or with salad dressing, but that image of a stoppered bottle is incorrect. For those of you who've never seen a vinaigrette, I invite you to have a look at part of my collection. Are they what you expected? Are there any other vinaigrette collectors out there? _________________ Last edited by Candice on Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:04 pm; edited 2 times in total
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havenrich
Countess of the Manor Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1567 Location: Hammond, La	Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:01 pm    Post subject:   I must not have paid attention, because the only books I recall the people reaching for anything, it was smelling salts. Those are pretty little boxes and remind me of my small pill box..minus the smelling holes on top.
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Margaret L
Landed Gentry Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 144 Location: California	Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:08 pm    Post subject:   Salad dressing? LOL!!!! I have seen vinaigrettes mentioned lots of times. Isn't it usually when some girl's mother discovers the girl has behaved improperly or something? And she yells, "Bring me my vinaigrette!" IIRC whenever I've read about a vinaigrette, it was always in connection with a swoon or near-swoon. I have to admit that I never knew they looked like little pill boxes. What a neat thing to collect! Are they hard to find?
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Rosie LT
Poor Relation Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 93 Location: curled up in a chair reading	Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:29 pm    Post subject:   I was under the wrong impression about what a vinaigrette looked like until I saw the collection when you first posted it on your website, Candice. Yes, I had read about them in books but I guess I had thought it was some kind of vial. Ever since I learned what they were, I always get excited when I see a reference to one in a book because now I feel very smart and smug that I know what it is! And now I, too, cringe when I see one referred to as a bottle. I always want to shriek at the author to go look at your website!!! _________________
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 1:47 pm    Post subject:   Margaret L wrote: What a neat thing to collect! Are they hard to find? Not particularly. I haunt antique shows and there are always some available. And they show up fairly frequently on eBay. _________________
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Manuelita
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 404 Location: Southern California	Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:35 am    Post subject: Re: Vinaigrettes - and I don't mean not salad dressing   Candice wrote: For those of you who've never seen a vinaigrette, I invite you to have a look at part of my collection. Are they what you expected? When I first clicked on the link and saw Figure 1, I thought it looked like a box of chocolates. Like the others, I always thought a vinaigrette was a bottle. Now I feel enlightened. _________________
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Buddy
Encroaching Mushroom Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Canada	Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:24 am    Post subject: collection   My reaction to the collection also was that it looked like a box of chocolates; what is my mind on???? I love the collection and interesting facts you give. I am now informed, thanks.
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CrystalGB
Upstart Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 17 Location: KY	Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:51 am    Post subject:   I always imagined a bottle when I read about them. I had no idea they were boxes. Now when I read I will have a correct image in mind.
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firebird
Upstart Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 23	Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:57 am    Post subject:   Are these the same as snuff box? ________ Ferrari f1 642 Last edited by firebird on Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:06 pm    Post subject:   firebird wrote: Are these the same as snuff box? No. They're actually much smaller. And when you flipped open the lid of a snuff box, the snuff was right there, ie there was no grill on top. I've always assumed the vinaigrette grill came into being because opening up a box with a wet sponge inside was fairly unattractive! Plus, one did not need to actually touch the sponge, as one did with snuff. So the decorative grill was used to hide the ugly sponge while still allowing the aromatic fumes to escape. _________________
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KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:12 pm    Post subject:   firebird wrote: Are these the same as snuff box? Nope. Snuff boxes don't have a pierced grill, and they're usually quite a bit larger. If you use Google Image you'll come up with quite a large # of snuff boxes. _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
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firebird
Upstart Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 23	Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:10 pm    Post subject:   Thanks for explaining the difference. ________ Silversurfer reviews Last edited by firebird on Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:26 pm; edited 1 time in total
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KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:22 am    Post subject:   *Happy Dance* This discussion just sparked the PERFECT solution for a dilemma I was having last night with the book I have due Nov 1st!!! I can’t believe it. Thank god I came over here today or I’d still be staring dumbly at my MS and trying to figure out what to do. _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:56 am    Post subject:   KalenHughes wrote: *Happy Dance* This discussion just sparked the PERFECT solution for a dilemma I was having last night with the book I have due Nov 1st!!! I can’t believe it. Thank god I came over here today or I’d still be staring dumbly at my MS and trying to figure out what to do. Happy to be of service! Can't wait to hear how/if a vinaigrette plays a (tiny but elegant) role in your story. _________________
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firebird
Upstart Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 23	Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:49 pm    Post subject:   Glad to hear you solved your dilemma, Kalen. ________ Aromed Vaporizer Last edited by firebird on Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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