This silver vesta case would have originally been used to store matches. At the bottom of the vesta is the 'striker' - where the matches would originally have been struck. Of course, you can also use it to store other small items!
The case is made in an Egyptian revival style and has the shape of an ancient Egyptian temple. Both sides are decorated with a winged scarab and lotus flowers, both symbols that were often used in ancient Egypt.
After the rediscovery of many Egyptian sites in the late 18th Century, ancient Egyptian symbols and motifs became very popular. This trend reached its peak in 1922, when the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter created a worldwide craze for anything Egyptian.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Dimensions: 60 x 45 x 11 mm.
Age: Early 20th Century, circa 1920s.
Material and maker: marked 'sterling' for 925/1000 silver, and stamped with the maker's mark of R. Blackinton & Co., an American jeweler who operated in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, from 1862 to 1967.
Condition: In great antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with age. Please note that modern matches will not light by striking them on this antique vesta case; antique matches had a different chemical composition.
Please note that this shop is based in the EU. Buyers from outside the EU might be subject to import taxes and/or VAT.