Pomander

In the 19th century, cloves were a signifier of affluence.  If you had them, you flaunted them as we have in this Christmas table decoration.  Families involved in import/export often had access to these and other exotic spices at a time before those little glass bottles of Schwartz brought them all from the supermarket shelf to the common table (other brands are available).  Sticking cloves in oranges is meant to preserve them,  though we plan to savour the flavour after Christmas rather than use them to scent underwear drawers as the Victorians did. Some Christmas shopping completed today, the last for this year I hope.