oval, the hinged cover engraved with a view of the International Exhibition of 1862, opens to reveal a flower and foliage pierced and engraved grille, the base engine-turned and centring a vacant shield
47mm wide, 13dwt, 20gr

The 1862 International Exhibition opened in London in May and was visited by some six million visitors by the time it closed in November. It had been the original intention that the building, on a site of what is now the Natural History Museum, would be kept. Unfortunately the government of the day declined to fund the purchase so the structure was instead dismantled with the many of its constituent materials being used in the construction of the Alexander Palace.

The present example is almost certainly engraved after a design published by A. Park of 7 Leonard Street, Finsbury Park and interestingly varies from the final design, presumably as it, and the vinaigrette, were produced in advance of the completion of the structure and in anticipation of a great demand when the exhibition opened. The design is almost certainly that registered by Alfred Taylor of 9 Howard Street, Birmingham as number 143413 ‘an ornamental panel shaped design with image of building’ on 12 September 1861.

Tennants are grateful to an Irish academic for their assistance in identifying the view on the present vinaigrette.