18th Century Material Culture

Bonbonnires

Bonbonnires
Bonbonnires were small containers used to carry
sweetmeats or cachous, tiny lozenges dissolved in the
mouth to sweeten the breath. These lozenges were also
used to calm a cough or settle the stomach. They were
made of sugar paste often flavored with aromatic oils such
as cloves, mint, or flowers (like violets and roses). English
bonbonnires often copied the designs of the Meissen
porcelain factory. The often bore the likeness of animal or
human heads.

Porcelain Egg Bonbonnire

c. 1760
(Private Collection)

English Porcelain Bonbonnire

St. James Porcelain c. 1749
(BRIDFAS of Hamburg: Naomi Motley)

French Porcelain Bonbonnire

c. 1740
(Private Collection)

English Pug Bonbonnire

c. 1770
(Private Collection)

Englis Pug Bonbonnire from Bilston

c. 1770
(Black Country Museums)

English Hare Bonbonnire from Bilston

c. 1770 - 1775
(Wolverhampton Arts & Museums Services)

English Enamel Bird Bonbonnire from Birmingham or Staordshire

c. 1760 - 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Bird Bonbonnire from Birmingham or Staordshire

c. 1765 - 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Dog Bonbonnire from London or Birmingham

c. 1765
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Wild Boar Bonbonnire from Birmingham or South Staordshire

c. 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Deer Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1760 - 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Turks Head Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1765
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Fruit Bonbonnires from South Staordshire

c. 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Bonbonnires from South Staorshire

c. 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Bonbonnires from South Staordshire

c. 1770 - 1780
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Bird Bonbonnires from South Staordshire

c. 1770 - 1780
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Animal Bonbonnires from South Staordshire

c. 1770 - 1780
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Hunting Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1765 - 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Hawk Bonbonnire from Birmingham or South Staordshire

c. 1760
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Enamel Dog Head Bonbonnire from Birmingham or South Staordshire

c. 1766 - 1770
(Bonhams Auction House)

English Bull & Calf Enamel Bonbonnire from Bilston

c. 1770 - 1775
(Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Services)

English Enamel Bonbonnire

c. 1780
(Private Collection)

English Enamel Bonbonnires from Birmingham or South Staordshire

c. 1765 - 1770
(Christies)

English Leopard Head Enamel Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1775
(Private Collection)

English Leopard Head Enamel Bonbonnire

Late 18th Century
(Christies)

English Turks Head Enamel Bonbonnire from Chelsea

c. 1755 - 1760
(Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, Bedford: Cecil Higgins Collection)

English Nut Shaped Enamel Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1765
(M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts)

English Sleeping Bull Enamel Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1765
(M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts)

English Yellow Bird Enamel Bonbonnire from South Staordshire

c. 1765
(M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts)

Acknowledgements
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