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A pomander was a pierced container, usually of highly decorated metal, containing an aromatic substance, such as balsam resin or ambergris (a sweet-smelling oily wax regurgitated by the sperm whale), worn to protect against bad odors. Women often suspended them from their girdle (belt). "Pomander" can also refer to the sweet-smelling substances themselves, which today we may put in a drawer with linens or underwear.Here, a small pomander is combined with a toothpick, a necessity in the time before toothbrushes. Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) carried one. During the 1600s, the popularity of wooden toothpicks made carrying one like this a bit old-fashioned.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
04e538994cbc7eb1
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
29870
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
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    "id": "29870",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/44.482",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Toothpick/Pomander",
    "description": "A pomander was a pierced container, usually of highly decorated metal, containing an aromatic substance, such as balsam resin or ambergris (a sweet-smelling oily wax regurgitated by the sperm whale), worn to protect against bad odors. Women often suspended them from their girdle (belt). \"Pomander\" can also refer to the sweet-smelling substances themselves, which today we may put in a drawer with linens or underwear.Here, a small pomander is combined with a toothpick, a necessity in the time before toothbrushes. Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) carried one. During the 1600s, the popularity of wooden toothpicks made carrying one like this a bit old-fashioned.",
    "provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "1550-1600 (Renaissance)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/44.482",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
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    ],
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    "imageCount": 2,
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    "dimensions": [
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            "units": "cm",
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        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 3 9/16 × W: 1 1/4 × D: 9/16 in. (9 × 3.2 × 1.5 cm)"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "29870",
    "label": "Toothpick/Pomander",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/44.482"
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Document source metadata
{
    "id": "29870",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/44.482",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Toothpick/Pomander",
    "description": "A pomander was a pierced container, usually of highly decorated metal, containing an aromatic substance, such as balsam resin or ambergris (a sweet-smelling oily wax regurgitated by the sperm whale), worn to protect against bad odors. Women often suspended them from their girdle (belt). \"Pomander\" can also refer to the sweet-smelling substances themselves, which today we may put in a drawer with linens or underwear.Here, a small pomander is combined with a toothpick, a necessity in the time before toothbrushes. Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) carried one. During the 1600s, the popularity of wooden toothpicks made carrying one like this a bit old-fashioned.",
    "provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "1550-1600 (Renaissance)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/44.482",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Enamels",
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    ],
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    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/ARG_44.482_Fnt_UK.jpg",
    "imageCount": 2,
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    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
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        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 3 9/16 × W: 1 1/4 × D: 9/16 in. (9 × 3.2 × 1.5 cm)"
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Document source extras
{
    "med": "gold, enamel, diamond, rubies, pearls",
    "creator_ids": [
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    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "REN"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
        "1994",
        "2054",
        "2513",
        "2704"
    ]
}
Page context
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