Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2016 | Page 57

Vesta cases are small portable boxes made to contain matches and keep them dry . They take their name from the Roman goddess of fire and the hearth , although in the United States they are more prosaically known as match safes . When they first came into use in the 1830s , friction matches were hazardous and could combust without warning , so vesta cases were something of a necessity . But as their production became more sophisticated , they came to say much about the status , wealth and personality of their owner . Part of the essential ‘ dress code ’ of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras , they were made in a range of materials and in a bewildering number of forms . In America , in Europe and in Japan they were produced extensively from the 1880s to the 1920s when they were superseded by the more durable and functional petrol lighter and the throwaway ‘ matchbook . In short , with such a huge scope in terms of variety and price levels , these are perfect collectables . Adapted from the Georgian snuffbox , the typical vesta case was a shaped rectangle with a flip-top lid , a serrated edge or a ribbed ‘ strike ’ on its base , and a link to attach a watch chain . The vast majority of these , made by the silversmiths in Birmingham , are plain or simply engraved / chased with initials or fashionable motifs . These become more desirable when set with semi-precious or precious stones or decorated with enamel sporting scenes , gambling motifs , advertising logos , club crests or alluring semi-clad woman .

Ask an expert !

Our Cowes week specialist sale , an auction held in Cowes during Cowes week , proved highly successful yet again this year . With the usual high quality top end lots , it proved a hit with the local sailing fraternity . With anything from fine oil paintings and diamond rings , to silver racing cups and Georgian pocket pistols the large crowd and massive online live bidding presence meant the sale total was a good reward for all the effort the team at Island Auction Rooms put in . Watch out for the off site auctions coming up soon !

www . visitilife . com 57