Stock No. 5821	William IV vinaigrette in book form
	William IV sterling silver vinaigrette in the form of a book. The front and back "covers" are decorated with an engine-turned striped design. The front "cover" has a central plain rectangular cartouche engraved with gothic initials G.F.R. The hinged edge on the left hand side of the "book" is fashioned as a very realistic ribbed book spine. The inside of the vinaigrette and the grille are gilt. The grille is pierced and is in the design of a flower with scrolled leafage and is well hallmarked The upper part of the vinaigrette is hallmarked with the duty mark, the maker's mark and the Lion Passant. The lower part is marked with the town mark, the maker's mark and the date letter.
	Maker :- Taylor & Perry

	Condition :-Excellent throughout. The whole vinaigrette is very crisp and the grille inside is very fine indeed. The hallmarks are good and clear and the two hallmarks on the inside of the grille (maker's mark and Lion Passant) are very crisp.
Hallmarked :- Birmingham 1833		.
Size :- 1.6 inches (4.1cm) long x 1 inch (2.5cm) wide
Weight :- 0.7ozt (21.3g)
The vinaigrette was designed to hold a piece of sponge soaked in an aromatic substance behind the pierced grille and to be used as an antidote to unpleasant smells, or as a reviver when a room was too hot or, in the case of a lady, when a corset was too tight. Though earlier examples are known, the majority of vinaigrettes date from 1775 to the end of the 19th century. Most of them were manufactured in Birmingham. Vinaigrettes were made in many shapes and are highly collectable. The most usual shapes are box, locket, purse, nut, fish, shell or animal form. To-day, vinaigrettes are very useful for carrying sugar sweetners or small pills.

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