Portrait of a Woman with a Pomander

This woman’s affluence is seen in her embroidered cap, pearl necklace, and the gold chain from which hangs a pierced metal container, or pomander. Portrait of a Young Woman with a Pink (WAM acc. no. 37.1847) includes one as well. Pomanders held sweet-smelling herbs or perfumes to combat the foul smells generated by limited personal hygiene. The word "pomander" actually refers to the contents of the ball; it comes from the French pomme d'amber, i.e. apple of amber, not the resin amber but ambergris, the waxy substance from the stomachs of sperm whales that was a basic ingredient in making perfume in the past. The arm of the chair upon which her hand rests appears to be decorated with a ...