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ID #SA1233122
FOR SALE
£95
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Victorian Novelty Privy Outhouse Gentleman on Toilet Loo Vesta Case Match Safe
For sale by Queens Antiques and Collectables
for sale €111     $121
£95

Queens Antiques and Collectables

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2025
Browse dealers 62 items
  • About Us
    Specialising in georgian & later high quality silver pieces.
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Id #SA1233122
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Victorian Novelty Privy Outhouse Gentleman on Toilet Loo Vesta Case Match Safe

19th century
Description

An Antique Victorian NOVELTY Vesta Case / Match Safe of a PRIVY OUTHOUSE with a GENTLEMAN ON THE LOO inside.

Made of base metal with a brass plated finish, which is showing honest surface wear to the gold toned brass plating on the flat side panels and edges from decades of handling.

The pitched roof lifts backwards on the hinge to reveal the inner match compartment, the base has the striker grid.

Unlatching the door reveals a gentleman figure sitting inside on the toilet.

Great piece of collectable Tobacciana.

Measuring 5 cm x 2.3 cm x 1.5 cm.

In very good antique condition. Hinge working well with a little movement, door shuts nicely, displays honest, light age-related surface wear, pocket scuffs, and a beautiful patina consistent of age and use.

Declaration

Queens Antiques and Collectables has dated this Victorian Novelty Vesta Case to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1233122
Dealers Notes

UK MAINLAND DELIVERY: Free of Charge via Royal Mail Special Delivery or Royal Mail Tracked 24 depending on the value of the item purchased.

OVERSEAS DELIVERY: please contact me for a quote.

Description
An Antique Victorian NOVELTY Vesta Case / Match Safe of a PRIVY OUTHOUSE with a GENTLEMAN ON THE LOO inside.
“
Made of base metal with a brass plated finish, which is showing honest surface wear to the gold toned brass plating on the flat side panels and edges from decades of handling.
Queens Antiques and Collectables
fig 1. An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside.
fig 1. Victorian Novelty Privy Outhouse Gentleman on Toilet Loo Vesta Case Match Safe

The pitched roof lifts backwards on the hinge to reveal the inner match compartment, the base has the striker grid.

Unlatching the door reveals a gentleman figure sitting inside on the toilet.

Great piece of collectable Tobacciana.

fig 2. An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside.
fig 2. Victorian Novelty Privy Outhouse Gentleman on Toilet Loo Vesta Case Match Safe

Measuring 5 cm x 2.3 cm x 1.5 cm.

In very good antique condition. Hinge working well with a little movement, door shuts nicely, displays honest, light age-related surface wear, pocket scuffs, and a beautiful patina consistent of age and use.

Date of Manufacture

Queens Antiques and Collectables has dated this Victorian Novelty Vesta Case to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1233122
Queens Antiques and Collectables
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2025

Specialising in georgian & later high quality silver pieces.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Queens Antiques and Collectables Profile Page

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An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside.
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Archive I An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside.

Victorian Novelty Privy Outhouse Gentleman on Toilet Loo Vesta Case Match Safe

Archive II An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside. View II
Archive III An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside. View III
Archive IV An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside. View IV
Archive V An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside. View V
Archive VI An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside. View VI
Archive VII An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside. View VII
Enlarged Archival View

Queens Antiques and Collectables
Telephone 07712 764055
Location
Clophill
Bedfordshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/queensantiques
Verified Since Oct 2025
Items For Sale 62
Items Sold 206
Queens Antiques and Collectables
Verified Since Oct 2025
View Dealer Info
Location: Clophill, Bedfordshire , United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/queensantiques
Verified
Oct 2025
For Sale
62
Sold
206
An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside.
Victorian NOVELTY PRIVY OUTHOUSE GENTLEMAN ON TOILET LOO Vesta Case Match Safe
Ref: SA1233122
An antique Victorian brass novelty vesta case designed as an outhouse with an opening door revealing a gentleman seated inside.
Detail View 1
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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectMatch Safes & Vesta Cases
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialBrass, Metal
  • ColourAged Brass
  • MotifsHinged door mechanism, Outhouse design, Relief gentleman figure, Friction match striker base

This Victorian novelty vesta case and match safe takes the form of an outhouse with a hinged door mechanism, an outhouse design, a relief gentleman figure, and a friction match striker base. Made of base metal with a brass-plated finish, it exhibits honest surface wear, pocket scuffs, and a gold-toned brass plating that reveals silver-toned base metal on the flat side panels and edges from decades of handling. A pitched roof lifts backwards on a hinge to reveal the inner match compartment, while unlatching the door reveals a gentleman figure sitting inside on the toilet, wearing a hat and seated with his knees drawn up. Measuring 5 cm x 2.3 cm x 1.5 cm, the piece sits upon an office desk as a collectable piece of tobacciana.

FAQs

Popular during the late 19th century, vesta cases were small portable containers designed to hold friction matches, known as vestas. Novelty variations were crafted in humorous or unusual shapes, reflecting the mechanical ingenuity and satire of the late Victorian era.

These pocket accessories were predominantly cast in brass, nickel plate, electroplated nickel silver, or sterling silver. They featured spring-hinged lids, integrated striker plates along the base, and often incorporated intricate relief detailing or opening doors.

Authentic period examples demonstrate wear consistent with age, particularly along the match striker plate and hinge mechanisms. Look for registered design numbers (Rd No), silver hallmarks, or maker stamps, alongside crisp cast metalwork.

Small metal match safes function as intriguing decorative curios when placed on an office desk, inside a glass display dome, or arranged on a tray alongside other antique brass accoutrements.

Dust gently with a soft microfibre cloth and avoid liquid chemical dips that strip away natural patina or historical oxidisation. Light buffing with a specialised polishing cloth preserves the metallic finish while maintaining contrast in recessed details.
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