A SMALL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
AND OBJECTS OF VERTU
silver matchbox holder (Vesta case) - England
this is a silver matchbox holder (Vesta case) made in England. It has London 1907 hallmarks (maker's mark SC &Co) and is monogrammed TE.These pocket-sized cases for carrying matches took their name from 'Vesta', the deity that presided over the domestic focus (hearth) in Ancient Rome.
She was the only goddess of the Roman pantheon who remained unformed and Her only contour emanated from Her residence at Rome which housed Vesta’s symbolic flame.
A 'match' was the modern representation of Vesta's symbolic flame and was known as a 'vesta' up until the twentieth century when 'match' became the favoured term.
Vesta cases were in great use between the 1860's and 1940', but the invention of the pocket petrol lighter initiated a decline in the use of these items.
This matchbox holder is 1 3/4 in. long (cm. 4,5) and was bought from a UK dealer in Bermondsey Market in London.
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This is a page of 'The What is? Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1500 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, Sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington), history, oddities ...
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This is a page of 'The What is? Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1500 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, Sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington), history, oddities ...