Silver pomander or teaball with perforations and hinged lid. Has chain and ring.
Label Text:
The pomander has been a popular accessory for centuries. These little trinkets are perforated containers, often in spherical form that were filled with aromatic herbs, flowers, and spices. The pomander could be worn around the neck, on a chatelaine, pinned to the clothing, or dangling from a chain attached to a ring around the finger. They could also be placed in a pocket or the folds of a gown. In the past, it was believed that the scents wafting from a pomander could provide protection against infection and disease. They were also a useful bauble to ward off foul smells or make one smell more attractive to the opposite sex. These globular cases were made in a variety of materials such as gold and silver, and a variety of openwork techniques were used to create their decorative perforations. In addition to the sphere, other popular shapes for pomanders included nuts, hearts, books, skulls, and ships. Some were made with partitions inside so that multiple perfumes could be held in the same container.
