London in 1870 wasn't as smelly as it had been during the infamous Great Stink of 1858, when sewage and industrial waste baking along the Thames nearly brought Parliament to a standstill. The new sewer system helped, but the occasional whiff could still knock you down. Enter the vinaigrette: worn on a chain and discreetly held to the nose, with a sponge inside soaked in perfume or aromatic oils.
This scent container was designed for you to hold up to your nose just like you'd smell an actual rose. The perfume would waft up through holes pierced in the metal. I've never seen such a direct, literal translation of a flower into jewelry.
MATERIALS: sterling silver with gilding on the petals
AGE: London hallmarks for 1870
CONDITION: Very good - gilding on the petals is a little worn in a few places; registration mark for July 6, 1868
SIZE: 4 1/2" total length including the bale, 1 1/8" blossom