Whistory
Man’s efforts to use scents to battle smells and even disease date back at least to Egypt. It was not so much creating pleasant aromas, as masking acrid smells. Understandably, with this need came the need for scent containers (vinaigrettes) and eventually materials of attractive designs. Eventually as the processing of scents were better able to be distilled and concentrated, the sizes of the containers thereby were able to be reduced.
Why were the containers (vinaigrettes) important?
Additionally, the containers themselves became important status symbols for the wealthy. Along came names such as pouncet, pomander, perfume bottles and for our purpose’s vinaigrettes.
With all the variety of designs and ornamentations, there would be combinations, such as those with whistles. Because of the upper class and royal use of scents and containers, we see whistles of unusual form and elaborate design that were/are costly to acquire.
Silver is the preferred material however with gold interiors, because gold is resistant to corrosion and especially acidic vinegar. By the time whistles were being incorporated, the structure was set with an internal compartment to hold the fluid, a sponge, and a grill top to allow sprinkling when the top was opened.
What are lozenges?
The oldest whistles display lozenges engraved inside the lids, the bodies having hallmarks. All of this helps in accurately dating the whistles. Rarer whistles may have used horn, or gems used in the body designs.
Silversmiths in Birmingham produced most of the vinaigrette whistles seen from this early period.
What was Stored in the Vinaigrettes?
Liquids such as perfumes, oils, ambergris (whale bile) and aromatic vinegars could be stored in these containers, then carried in pockets, on wristlet chains, neck chains, finger rings or chatelaines.
Aromatic vinegar – is a sour liquid used as a preservative, and obtained by the spontaneous ( acetous ) fermentation, or by the artificial oxidation of wine, cider, beer or the like, then mixed with aromatic substances. The shelf life is 2 to 3 years long.
Smelling salts – a combination of ammonium carbonite and perfume. They were widely used in Victorian Britain to revive fainting women, and in some areas constables would carry a container of them for the purpose.[9] During this time, smelling salts were commonly dissolved with perfume in vinegar or alcohol and soaked onto a sponge, which was then carried on the person in a decorative container called a vinaigrette.[10][11
Vinaigrettes and Vinaigrette Whistles
Vinaigrettes came in many decorative forms, but vinaigrette whistles have been seen in mostly horn shapes with small chains for Chatelaines, necklaces or bracelets.
Perfume bottle whistles have been found in a horn shape of glass. Also seen are more common, modern Fabergé, longer shaped decorative bottles.
Whistle Classification
| Category | vinaigrettes |
| Order | Samson Mordan unknown |
| Type | Maidens chatelaine |
| Class | silver gold horn carnelian onyx stone agate glass |
| Sub class / Features | horn shaped whistle round whistle |
Whistle Archeology
Terms – Fragrance, odour, scent, aroma.
Perfume – Plant substances are often hand-picked for their particular aroma. Animal products are fatty substances that must be extracted directly from the animal.
Essential oil – They’re made from parts of certain plants like leaves, seeds, barks, roots, and rinds. Makers use different methods to concentrate them into oils.
Pouncet-box – a small silver box, the sides of which are “pounced,” or pierced, with holes, containing a sponge soaked in pungent vinegar to ward off disease and pungent odors, 1600’s.
Pomander – pomme d”amber ( French, apple of amber ) a small round charm that could be filled with a variety of popular scents, like musk, ambergris, lavender and rose. Originally citrus fruits studded with cloves.
Vinaigrette – The word originated as a diminutive form of French (vinaigre), was first used in English as long ago as 1699, but it did not really become established until the end of the nineteenth century. Late 1700’s.
A couple non whistles for comparison as follows:
(Photo credit pending.)
Whistology
Horn shaped vinaigrette whistles followed a common theme although in many variations.
Samson Mordan c. 1870
S. Mordan c. 1870
1835-1845 Scotland horn
(Photo credits pending.)
John Brownett, London, 1889-90
(Photo credit pending.)
Silver reproduction
Two Perfume bottles
Various perfume whistle combination bottles
Conclusions:
A combination whistle by design, with multiple capacities for liquids. From mid value to extravagant, vinaigrettes soon became status symbols. The majority were made by silversmiths or jewelers. No major whistle makers are known to have ventured a model.
TWG
First Printing December 28, 2024
Edited March 12, 2025
Posted March 24, 2025
Bibliography
TWG Reference Collection
TWG Archives
https://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/vinaigrette-history-what-is-a-vinaigrette-d138.htm
https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/vinaigrettes/
https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/fun-at-home/a8951/home-fragrances/
https://www.kitchenproject.com/history/SaladDressing/Vinaigrette-History.htm#:~:text=Why%20is%20it%20called%20vinaigrette,end%20of%20the%20nineteenth%20century.
A-Z of Food and Drink, John Ayto [Oxford University Press: Oxford] 2002 (p. 359)
https://www.britannica.com/art/vinaigrette-decorative-article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smelling_salts
https://www.antiquesinoxford.co.uk/sampson-mordan
https://choize.co.uk/blogs/news/difference-between-fragrance-aroma-scent#:~:text=The%20Aroma%20is%20distinctive%2C%20pervasive,it%20has%20a%20positive%20connotation.
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-essential-oils
