4 ANTIQUE SILVER CROWNED LOVE BIRDS HEARTS HOVEDVANDSAEG VINAIGRETTE SNUFF BOXES

Description

FOUR ANTIQUE SILVER CROWNED LOVE BIRDS HEARTS HOVEDVANDSAEG…. All engraved, some with initials and parcel gilt. The largest engraved with the date “1834”. The love bids heart has 3 hallmarks to its base. The largest/heaviest is of very high quality, and the love birds is the smallest and lightest and although it is very nice, it is somewhat inferior to the others in terms of quality and workmanship. Overall a very nice collection.
Circa: 19th century
Origin: Danish/Scandinavian
Dimensions: ranging from 6.2 to 8.0cm tall, and 4.2 to 5.2cm wide.
Weight: Lg. Crown: 58.65 grams… Med. crown: 25.31 grams… Sm. crown: 32.0 grams… Love birds: 20.93 grams
Condition: Overall very good condition. Some of the feet are slightly disfigured, altogether nothing significant or beyond a small repair by a reputable silversmith.
It was with this type of spice box from Scandinavia that a young man indicated his intentions by presenting a 'hovedvandsæg' (in Denmark) to the young lady of his choice ('Svampehus'-sponge house- and 'luktevannshus' -perfumed egg- in Norway).
It literally means 'head-water egg' i.e. an 'egg' to contain 'water' to revive the senses.
It is the successor of the pomander and should also be called 'vinaigrette', since it was used for smelling salts or aromatic vinegar.
Large numbers of these containers, in a variety of styles, date from the 18th into the latter part of the 19th century and are often personalised with pin pricked initials and a date.
'Hovedvandsæg' are of various forms from about 1725. The earlier ones are heart shaped and pecularly are marked inside at the top of the bottom half or inside the lid. Occasionally above the lid is a semi precious stone held between two birds or fishes. Sometimes they have a standing foot which opens, sometimes just a foot and sometimes no foot.
Questions or concerns? Please don’t hesitate to contact us, we look forward to hearing from you.