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Vesta cases, or simply “vestas” are small boxes made to house wax, or "strike anywhere", matches. The first successful friction match appeared in 1826, and in 1832 William Newton patented the "wax vesta" in England [[1]]. It consisted of a wax stem with embedded cotton threads and a tip of phosphorus. Newton named his matches after Vesta, the Roman goddess of fire and the hearth. Small containers to house these friction matches were introduced shortly afterwards (in the early 1930s), to guard against accidental combustion. In England these containers took their name from the term Newton used for his invention, and they became known as "vesta cases", "vesta boxes" or simply "vestas". In America the the more prosaic yet more descriptive term "match safes" was chosen.
There were three main forms of vesta cases: pocket vestas, table or standing vestas and “go to bed” vestas. Pocket vesta cases were the most popular form, and were often made to be suspended from a fob chain or an Albert chain. Table vestas were usually larger than pocket vestas and left in a handy position in the home, such as the kitchen or close to a fireplace. “Got to bed” vestas were usually joined to a candle stick holder.
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They were made throughout the world including the United Kingdom, in the U.S.A., continental Europe and Australia. Significant or notable English makers of vesta cases included silversmiths such as Mappin & Webb, Sampson Mordan[1], Asprey & Co., William Neale & Sons and William Hair Haseler, who partnered with Arthur Liberty, the founder or Liberty's. Significant American manufacturers of match safes include Wm. B. Kerr, Gorham, Unger Brothers, Battin, Blackington, Whiting, George Scheibler and Shreve & Co.
Designs
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The different shapes and decorations must run into many thousands. As well as plain and decorated square, oblong and round cases, a myriad of novelty shapes have been recorded; silver, brass or white metal pigs with hinged heads were popular, as were vesta cases in the form of Mr Punch, hearts, skulls, books, musical instruments (often violas), owls, boots and shoes, bottles, ladies' legs and so on. Sporting decorations were common, especially golf and cricket. As were hunting scenes and armorial decorations.
They were also made in a wide range of materials, including silver, brass, tin, gunmetal, nickel silver, gold, bone, ivory and early plastics such as tortoiseshell and bakelite. The more unusual materials included leather, wood, horn, ceramics (usually for table vestas) and the sea bean seed from Entada gigas commonly known as the monkey-ladder, sea bean, Cœur de la Mer or Sea Heart. Although many were made of inexpensive materials (most often brass or nickel silver), sterling silver was perhaps the common material, especially in England. Wealthier users often carried vestas made of precious metals, e.g. gold, or enameled versions. More expensive vestas often had a gold wash interior to prevent corrosion by the chemically active match heads.
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A distinguishing characteristic of vesta cases is that they have a ribbed surface, usually on the bottom, for lighting the matches. Some vestas incorporated a cigar cutter or a small knife blade. Pocket vestas and sovereign cases were sometimes combined into the one item, as were vesta cases and stamp holders.
Decorations were often engraved into metal vestas (with floreate patterns the most common), though other techniques were sometimes used, including repoussé, guilloché or engine turning, cloisonné, cold-painting, enamelling and niello. Many vestas had cartouches in a central position on the front for the engraving of initials etc.
Promotional vestas were sometimes produced by different companies, for example, the Gillette company produced a brass razor blade case with a ribbed bottom that could be used as a vesta case after the razor blades had been used, and Veuve Cliquot produced a vesta in the shape of a champagne bottle. Some vestas were produced as mementos for tourists and others were produced to commemorate important events, such as the death of Queen Victoria.
Collecting vesta cases
Vesta cases are highly collectable and can still to be found in a vast array of shapes, sizes and materials. Prices vary considerably depending on a broad range of factors, including the material of manufacture, maker, condition, age, design, rarity and subject matter. Base metal vestas can be found from as little as GPB10, sterling silver vestas typically retail around GBP50 - GBP150, while gold and some enameled vestas (especially those with hunting motifs) can cost thousands of pounds. To get a more accurate idea of prices, it is a good idea to browse antique stores, fairs and auction results.
Antiques fairs and markets can be fertile hunting grounds for bargains for collectors, although it can be safer to buy from reputable antique dealers and shops (though these will usually charge higher prices). Auctions can also provide some bargains, if you know what you're looking for.
Because of their collectability and the prices that some forms can command, fakes and replicas can be found, sometimes even in reputable antique stores. Accordingly, collectors are well advised to be familiar with genuine hallmarks used on silver and gold vestas.
References
- ^ "Novelty vestas: Sampson Mordan & Co Ltd". Antiques in Oxford. Retrieved 2020-10-04.