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ID #SA31322
FOR SALE
£100
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Birmingham 1912 Solid Silver Engraved and Curved Vesta or Matchsafe in Excellent Condition.
Serpentine Antiques
for sale €117     $127
£100
Serpentine Antiques

Serpentine Antiques

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Birmingham 1912 Solid Silver Engraved and Curved Vesta or Matchsafe in Excellent Condition.

1900 - 1920
Description

Birmingham 1912 English hallmarked solid silver engraved and curved vesta or matchsafe with line engraving, by William Hair Haseler, and with match strike to lower edge.

William H. Haseler were the manufacturers for the London firm Liberty & Company. Liberty insisted on anonymity for its designers.

Vesta cases are airtight cases made to contain short friction matches and keep them safe and dry. They were made in many materials, and some in precious metals like this one, usually with gilt linings, to protect against corrosion from the match heads. They were widely made and used from 1890-1920. Many had a loop attached, like this one, to attach to an Albert chain. Now, they are very collectable and interesting small antique silver items.

This shape, with curved back, was meant to fit comfortably into a vest pocket, curving into the body.

Weight- 25 grams.

Size- 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches.

With tight hinge closure, good weight and very clear hallmarks.

With just some very light surface scratching, this is in very good condition.

Declaration

Serpentine Antiques has dated this Edwardian Silver Vesta Case to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA31322
Dealers Internal Reference
4298
Dealers Notes

Please click on my personal website link in the top left column of this page, or go to www.serpentineantiques.co.uk to see additional items not listed on this site. If you would like additional photos, I am happy to provide them.

Inventory is located in different locations, so please email to verify availability. Thank you.

Description
Birmingham 1912 English hallmarked solid silver engraved and curved vesta or matchsafe with line engraving, by William Hair Haseler, and with match strike to lower edge.

William H. Haseler were the manufacturers for the London firm Liberty & Company. Liberty insisted on anonymity for its designers.

Vesta cases are airtight cases made to contain short friction matches and keep them safe and dry.

“
They were made in many materials, and some in precious metals like this one, usually with gilt linings, to protect against corrosion from the match heads.
Serpentine Antiques

They were widely made and used from 1890-1920. Many had a loop attached, like this one, to attach to an Albert chain. Now, they are very collectable and interesting small antique silver items.

fig 1. An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring.
fig 1. Birmingham 1912 Solid Silver Engraved and Curved Vesta or Matchsafe in Excellent Condition.

This shape, with curved back, was meant to fit comfortably into a vest pocket, curving into the body.

Weight- 25 grams.

Size- 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches.

With tight hinge closure, good weight and very clear hallmarks.

With just some very light surface scratching, this is in very good condition.

Date of Manufacture

Serpentine Antiques has dated this Edwardian Silver Vesta Case to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA31322
Dealers Internal Ref
4298
Serpentine Antiques
Serpentine Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2008

Specialising in unique pieces for the discerning individual, selected and prepared with special care..

Dealer Profile

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

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An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring.
1 / 5
Archive I An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring.

Birmingham 1912 solid silver engraved and curved vesta or matchsafe in excellent condition.

Archive II An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring. View II
Archive III An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring. View III
Archive IV An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring. View IV
Archive V An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring. View V
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Serpentine Antiques

Serpentine Antiques
Telephone 07810 752 292
Location
at The Antiques Warehouse
Badshot Farm
St. Georges Rd
Runfold
Farnham
Surrey
GU9 9HR
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/serpentine
Verified Since Feb 2008
Items For Sale 105
Items Sold 1,220
Serpentine Antiques
Serpentine Antiques
Verified Since Feb 2008
View Dealer Info
Location: at The Antiques Warehouse, Badshot Farm, St. Georges Rd, Runfold, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 9HR, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/serpentine
Verified
Feb 2008
For Sale
105
Sold
1,220
An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring.
Birmingham 1912 solid silver engraved and curved vesta or matchsafe in excellent condition.
Ref: SA31322
An Edwardian sterling silver vesta case featuring vertical pinstripe engraving, a central circular monogram, and a side attachment ring.
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FAQs

A vesta case, or matchsafe, is a small portable container produced primarily between the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to store friction matches, known as vestas, keeping them dry and preventing accidental ignition.

During the Edwardian era, vesta cases were typically crafted from sterling silver using stamping, engine-turning, and hand-engraving techniques, often featuring a curved body to comfortably fit into a waistcoat pocket and a striker plate along the bottom edge.

Authentic British silver vesta cases feature full hallmarks stamped into the silver, including a makers mark, town mark such as the Birmingham anchor, assay office fineness mark, and a date letter code corresponding to the exact year of manufacture.

Antique silver vesta cases are frequently styled as decorative pocket items on a desk valet tray, displayed inside glass curiosity cabinets, or worn as unique pendant charms on neck chains using their integrated suspension rings.

Clean solid silver gently using a soft cotton cloth and a specialised silver polishing cream, avoiding abrasive chemical dips that can strip dark oxidisation detail from deep engravings or damage internal steel spring mechanisms.
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