Rijksmuseum

Pomander

Date

c. 1600 - c. 1625

Medium

ruby (mineral), emerald (mineral), gold (metal), precious stone (material), diamond (mineral)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

This pomander is shaped like a pomegranate, which was a symbol of vitality in the 16th century. The spherical part is made up of six sections, each one consisting of a little box, whose lid can be lifted. The boxes contained aromatic balms, which could serve as perfume as well as medicine. Pomanders were hung from a chain or a belt.

The authoritative record is held by Rijksmuseum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.