Vintage Art Nouveau Victorian Match Safe Vesta Flip Top Ornate
Directory: Vintage Arts: Decorative Art: Metals: Silver: Plate: Pre 1900: Item # 352518
Please refer to our stock # T 1152 when inquiring.
2 3/4 X 1 1/2" X just under 1/2 thick and weighs 1.2 Oz or 33 grams, with just the right amount of silver loss at the ridged bottom where many a match was struck!
Consider starting a young adult in collecting vintage with this interesting little "box" to keep little treasures. bo-C
$9 USPS Priority/Ins/Track or Free with USA CK or USPS MO.
Please collect with confidence after reviewing the dozens of Trocadero verified testimonials, then view all extreme close up images for more info, as all Qs will be answered here in lieu of email reply.
So you crossed paths with these charming Art Nouveau ornate metal boxes that once were used to house the early 1890 "strike anywhere", easily ignitable matches. What to do with them now?
These small ornate boxes went by many names such as pocket safes, vesta boxes or vesta match safes, to name a few. So named after the Roman goddess Vesta, you know, the gal goddess of fire! Aptly named for the goddess of fire, because it has been said that the early matches were "not safe" to carry around in one's pockets since they were known to ignite prematurely when they came in contact with each other. Yikes, who needs a fire in their pants?!
The vesta match safe industry was born. The materials were as varied as the designs and motifs, giving rise to figural designs from the sublime to the novelty comicals. From the ornate Art Nouveau to the early Deco era sleek linear look.
The wealthy owned gold, sterling, enamel, ivory ones signed by famous makers like Scheibler, Shreve & Co, Blackington, Gorham, Unger Brothers, to name a few, while the less moneyed may have carried brass, german silver or tin, that were probably unsigned. They all had one thing in common; a ribbed edge on the bottom to strike the matches.
Unless you need to light a match at a fancy schmancy camping exhibit somewhere...just tuck away for an interesting gift to someone. Actually, if you take a peek at this year's (2012) Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog, one can own a little "bar trailer" for a mere 150K and maybe not this vesta, but a real pricey one would fit in just fine.
All images and original text content are solely owned by Mimi Dee and may not be reproduced in any form. 12/05/2012.
