1071 - Three smelling boxes, silver, gilt interior, urn and goblet shape, one with eagle, 18th/19th century

Three smelling boxes, silver, gilt interior, urn and goblet shape, one with eagle, 18th/19th century Silver, three small smelling boxes, also scent boxes or balsam boxes, each with hinged lid, opening, with remains of gilding on the outside, gilt interior. 1) Box in urn form on a square foot plate, body with engraved arcade frieze and lanceolate leaf frieze, domed lid with engraved leaf wreath, beaded rim and sculptural flower finial, the foot plate as a hinged base with a small compartment in the foot, compartment and foot plate gilt inside, there stamped with a mark with crown above a letter, not identified, underside of the foot plate engraved, monogrammed and dated 1805, early 19th century, good condition commensurate with age. 2) Box in goblet form, strap handles on both sides, guilloché bands at lip and lid, conical lid with ball finial with remains of gilding, round foot with beaded rim, to the base a worn rectangular mark and a monogram engraved in dotted technique with date 1859, mid 19th century, good condition commensurate with age. 3) Box in Rococo form with bulbous, curved body and embossed rocaille and leaf scroll decoration with remains of gilding, domed lid with eagle crest, the eagle with spread, gilt wings, the oval foot plate as a hinged base with a small compartment in the foot, compartment gilt inside and stamped "M" in a rectangular punch between two mirror-inverted "S" in round punches, not identified, probably 2nd half of the 18th century, good condition commensurate with age. H. 7.5 to 8 cm, weight 92 g (total). Smelling boxes, called hovedvandsæg in Denmark, held a sponge soaked in fragrant balsam and served as a portable medicine chest to have quickly at hand in case of indisposition. The type is known above all from Northern Germany and Denmark, where such small boxes were made between circa 1740 and 1840 and were often presented as a bridal gift. Besides hearts, jugs, eggs and fish, urns and vases with hinged lids are among the common forms; the gilt interior protected the silver from the fragrance. Under the name vinaigrette, such containers for smelling salts or a perfumed sponge are listed as accessories in the 18th and 19th centuries.