Vintage Matchsafe,Vesta Box/Safe Sail Boats, Patented
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This match safe is made of gilded brass and patented (no date given). It depicts a ship in full sail and on the back it has a floral motif around a medallion. The safe is in good condition with minimal wear to the gilt. It is nice and clean on the inside as well. There is a strike plate on the bottom. Measurements are 21/4" by 13/8" and 1/4" thick. Here is some information on Vesta boxes from Wikipedia: Vesta cases , vesta boxes , or pocket match safes or matchsafes were small portable boxes made in a great variety of forms with snapshut covers to contain vestas (short matches ) and keep them dry.So called after the name of one of the early makers (which was taken from the goddess Vesta, a Roman deity of fire and the hearth), they came into use around the 1830s and were produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.Significant American manufacturers of match safes include Wm. B. Kerr, Gorham, Unger Brothers, Battin, Blackington, Whiting, George
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