Abbotsford House Vinaigrette, 1839

This is a very good example of the popular Abbotsford castle top vinaigrette. Views of Abbotsford House were used to decorate boxes following the flow of sentimentality after the death of Sir Walter Scott and generally date from the late 1830's. This box was made by Gervase Wheeler during this period. The interior of the box is gilt and has an attractive hinged grille. The clear hallmarks are spread between the base and the cover.

Abbotsford is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, probably the most well known Scottish author, penning such timeless works as Ivanhoe, Lady of the Lake, Kenilworth, Rob Roy, Waverley and The Heart of Midlothian. He was one of the most popular novelists and poets of the 19^th Century. In 1811 Sir Walter bought the property which was to become Abbotsford, set in the heart of the Scottish Borders, on the banks of the River Tweed. The building of Abbotsford took six years, and was completed in 1824. The house was opened to the public in 1833, five months after Sir Walter's death, and has been enjoyed by visitors ever since.