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ID #SA31325
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£100
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Birmingham 1900 Solid Silver Leaf and Scroll Engraved Vesta Matchsafe in Very Good Condition.
For sale by Serpentine Antiques
for sale €117     $127
£100
Serpentine Antiques

Serpentine Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2008
Browse dealers 105 items
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    Specialising in unique pieces for the discerning individual, selected and prepared with special care..
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Id #SA31325
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Birmingham 1900 Solid Silver Leaf and Scroll Engraved Vesta Matchsafe in Very Good Condition.

1900 - 1920
Description

Birmingham 1900 English hallmarked solid silver leaf and scroll engraved vesta matchsafe, with interesting diagonally seamed cover, and match strike to lower edge.

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.

Size-1.75 inches by 1.1 inches.

Weight-20 grams.

Very good quality, with very hard to see line mark to back.

In very good condition.

Declaration

Serpentine Antiques has dated this Silver Vesta Case to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA31325
Dealers Internal Reference
0786
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 1900 English hallmarked solid silver leaf and scroll engraved vesta matchsafe, with interesting diagonally seamed cover, and match strike to lower edge.

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.

Size-1.75 inches by 1.1 inches.

Weight-20 grams.

Very good quality, with very hard to see line mark to back.

In very good condition.

Date of Manufacture

Serpentine Antiques has dated this Silver Vesta Case to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA31325
Dealers Internal Ref
0786
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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A late Victorian sterling silver vesta case featuring leaf and scroll hand engraving, a central monogrammed cartouche, a hinged top lid, and a top suspension ring.
1 / 3
Archive I A late Victorian sterling silver vesta case featuring leaf and scroll hand engraving, a central monogrammed cartouche, a hinged top lid, and a top suspension ring.

Birmingham 1900 Solid Silver Leaf and Scroll Engraved Vesta Matchsafe in Very Good Condition.

Archive II A late Victorian sterling silver vesta case featuring leaf and scroll hand engraving, a central monogrammed cartouche, a hinged top lid, and a top suspension ring. View II
Archive III A late Victorian sterling silver vesta case featuring leaf and scroll hand engraving, a central monogrammed cartouche, a hinged top lid, and a top suspension ring. View III
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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
A late Victorian sterling silver vesta case featuring leaf and scroll hand engraving, a central monogrammed cartouche, a hinged top lid, and a top suspension ring.
Birmingham 1900 solid silver leaf and scroll engraved vesta matchsafe in very good condition.
Ref: SA31325
A late Victorian sterling silver vesta case featuring leaf and scroll hand engraving, a central monogrammed cartouche, a hinged top lid, and a top suspension ring.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectVesta Cases
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleLate Victorian
  • MaterialSterling Silver
  • ColourSilver
  • MotifsScroll engraving, Foliate motifs, Monogram cartouche, Suspension ring

This late Victorian sterling silver vesta matchsafe originates from Birmingham in 1900. The piece takes a pocket-sized form with a rounded, hinged top lid, a diagonally seamed cover, a match strike along the lower edge, and an integrated suspension ring attached to the top. The solid silver surface exhibits extensive hand-engraved foliate leaf and scrollwork designs enclosing a central shaped cartouche with a monogram, alongside a hard-to-see line mark on the back and polished reflective silver highlights. Measuring 4.4 cm by 2.8 cm, the compact container fits easily into the palm of a hand. Collectors display small antique silver objects like this on desks or within gentleman's library settings as decorative shelf accessories and historical keepsakes.

FAQs

A vesta case, also known as a match safe, is a small portable box designed to hold friction matches safely. Popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these cases prevented matches from accidentally igniting in a pocket or handbag.

Antique silver vesta cases were typically stamped or hand-chased from sheets of sterling silver. They feature a spring-hinged lid to keep matches dry and a serrated strike plate positioned along the bottom edge for lighting the match.

Authentic British sterling silver vesta cases carry official hallmarks stamped into the silver, usually including a lion passant mark, an assay office symbol (such as an anchor for Birmingham), a makers mark, and a date letter.

Today, antique silver vesta cases are often repurposed as decorative pendant neck chains or attached to pocket watch fobs. They can also be displayed in glass vitrines or arranged on a desk tray alongside period writing instruments.

Clean sterling silver with a soft microfibre cloth and a mild silver polish formulated to remove oxidisation. Avoid submerging the piece in water to protect the internal steel spring mechanisms from rusting.
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