FINE & FANCY ANTIQUE STERLING GOLD GILDED GEORGE UNITE VINAIGARETTE / SCENT BOX

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FINE & FANCY ANTIQUE STERLING GOLD GILDED GEORGE UNITE VINAIGARETTE / SCENT BOX<br>PLEASE VISIT MY<br>NEW<br>WEST COAST TRADING POST STORE !<br>CLICK ON " VISIT STORE " BELOW MY USER NAME<br>IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF MY LISTINGS.<br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>SEE SELLER'S RETURN POLICY BELOW<br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>FREE U.S.A. & INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING, HANDLING, DELIVERY<br>via U.S.P.S.. International shipping uses the eBay Global Shipping Program to all eBay Global Shipping  locations.<br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br>ANTIQUE FINE & FANCY VICTORIAN HAND MADE STERLING SILVER<br>GOLD GILDED / HAND ENGRAVED VINAIGARETTE / SCENT BOX<br>BY GEORGE UNITE / BIRMINGHAM / 8 HALLMARKS / DATED 1871<br>This is a small Antique Sterling Silver, hand engraved, gold gilded Vinaigrette; made in this size with a tiny attachment ring so it could be worn by either a Lady as a necklace or on a Chatelaine chain; or, by a Gentleman on his watch fob. Vinaigrettes were also called scent boxes, as they typically held a sponge to hold perfume. Towns and large cities in the 1700's and even the 1800's had open sewers; and Ladies and Gentlemen would carry a fancy scent box as a fashion statement and necessary accoutrement to inhale and block out the stench of open sewers. These pieces come in a variety of sizes and shapes; and the fancier and smaller they are, the more difficult it was to create, and the more costly to make, and more valuable today. This small piece that demonstrates the Artisanship and Craftsman ship of Master Jewelers; the body is about 1 3/8" wide x 7/8" deep x 5/16" tall; weight is a mere .4 of an ounce or 11 grams. The top, bottom and sides all have a 3 dimensional border with a guilloche pattern engraved center panels, and a tiny stylized circular escutcheon plate on the top that is uninscribed. Both the top and bottom have hand engraved line engraved borders with tiny swirl patterns with identical guilloche line engraving patterns, with the bottom having no escutcheon. The top closes properly and stays closed, and the small eyelet at one side is to attach to a chatelaine chain or watch fob. The sides of both the top and bottom are 3 dimensionally sculptured inward and meet at the center, and have a fancy double line border in a curving pattern consisting of dozens and dozens of tiny punch engraving. The top closes on the outside of the base lip, and the hand filigreed grill hinge and back hinge work fine, and the grill seats tightly inside the lip of the base. The base has a small cut out to allow access to the grill to be lifted up with a fingernail. The hand cut piercings of the grill is exceptional, with dozens of very detailed filigreed file work cutouts with fancy hand line engraved scrollwork pattern and a line engraved border. This entire piece is completely hand made with only simple hand tools; a tribute to the Artisans and Craftsmen who specialized in making these tiny scent boxes their entire career. English vinaigrettes have Hallmarks that vary in number and what they designate; such as the maker, city, material, duty and date stamps. Thus fully stamped examples are a mark of quality and pride, and when the markings are clear, are very desirable and increase the value. This piece has 8 clear Hallmarks The inside top is hallmarked with the well known GU, the Maker mark for George Unite (first registered in 1832), a W date mark for 1871, the Anchor for Birmingham, the lion for Sterling, and the correct duty mark of Queen Victoria, used 1838 - 1890. The inside bottom is hallmarked GU, the Maker mark for George Unite, the duty mark of Queen Victoria, and the W date mark for 1871. The inside top, bottom, as well as the top and bottom of the grill are gold gilded, with all of the gilt remaining, although slightly diminished over a century and a half from polishing. There is one small area of wear to the gold gilt that exposes the sterling underneath that is just above the lip to open the grill where the finger is pressed down to seat the grill into the base. This tiny Vinaigrette is rare not only because it is about 150 years old; but it's tiny size lends itself to being easily lost. There are no dings, dents, damage or repairs, and is in Fine+ condition overall, with a nice light overall patina. This would be a perfect gift or keepsake, and would fit into any Vinaigrette, Jewelry, Pendant, Necklace, Watch Fob, Chatelaine or Smalls collection; and could still be used today to capture your favorite perfume by inserting a small sponge.<br>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~