In the days before electric ignition, matches were a common and necessary household implement—in the kitchen, in the dining room and at the fireplace. "Strike-anywhere matches" needed a safe and attractive container for safekeeping (sometimes called a "match safe"). As strike anywhere matches were combustible (and could, theoretically, be ignited if rubbed together), they required fireproof containment (in a vessel as air-tight as possible). And, because such a match holder was on prominent display on the mantelpiece, it should be attractive, too.
This heavy cast iron match holder was made in the third quarter of the Nineteenth Century. It still retains its original black and golden paint. And the gold paint is richly-aged—never to be confused with the glitzy "shiny bright" baubles sometimes seen lined-up upon the mantels in tackier office settings.
A match holder usually provides a surface upon which one can strike the match. On this match holder, one can use the ribbed sides of the vessel. This, however, will eventually lead to scratching and marking. We suggest using the rough surface inside the lifted lid. If one's matches need a bit more friction, a strip of sandpaper can be cut and taped (or glued) inside the top of the cover's interior.
This match holder has numerous other practical uses, too. It can be used to keep a few rings or cufflinks (drop a small, silky piece of fabric into the bottom first, as padding). It would be great for a stash of collar stays, a few cotton swabs or (dry) hard mint balls. On a desk, it could be used to store clips or an array of note cards and business cards (though the lid will not close over standard business cards). And the container would be useful if filled with strong potpourri or ambergris. The cover could be momentarily lifted to release a bloom of the fragrance within. For those who have lost a beloved canine, a small portion of the cremated remains could be memorialized in this handsome little urn. (The top could be cemented-down, if you wish, or the ashes could be kept in a little drawstring bag, placed within the "vault.")
Click on one of the photos above to learn more about this handsome and useful object.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.