The following treasures are from the living estate of Ailene & Buddy Ford; noted dealers and lifelong collectors of valuable antique & vintage heirlooms. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThe AEAA is very pleased to present this gorgeous pair of latter Victorian ca. 1890-1910 Sterling Silver match safes (known as Vestas in England). Our incredible pair include a splendid F.S. Gilbert of North Attleboro, MA. active from 1900-1915, larger smooth oval blown out, true Art Nouveau safe, and a magnificent Louis XVI style Neoclassical center medallion example. Both have original working lid springs, and are in excellent condition. The larger measures 2.5 x 1.75 x .5 inches, and both weigh a total of 41.2 grams. This stunning pair are a must for any match safe collection! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxx. The first friction match was made by John Walker, in Stockton-on-Tees, England in 1826. By 1840, friction matches were in use in many parts of the Western world. The 180 year history of the match includes matches that had heads made of chlorate of potash and sulfide of antimony which ignited when dipped into small bottles of Sulfuric acid, called “instantaneous light-boxes.” Another type was the Sulfur match, a small wood splint that was dipped into melted Sulfur and carried in tinder boxes. It was not struck and was primarily used to light candles after it was ignited from the burning tinder. The match that we recognize today is the friction match that Walker invented and actually bursts into flame when rubbed against a roughened surface.The evolution of the friction match later included the addition of phosphorus to facilitate igniting the match. Poor lower class girls were used in England to produce these matches in horrific working conditions. The squalor & disease level was so high, that in 1886, the first strike by an all women’s union, The Match Girls Strike attempted to change the work conditions but failed. Much in the industry remained the same throughout the world until 1911 when the Diamond Match Company, in the United States, offered its patent for making non-toxic matches to the public. In 1915, the Diamond Match Company was awarded the Louis Livingston Seaman Medal for the elimination of an occupational disease and the diseases caused by phosphorus in the manufacture of matches, and a nasty era finally came to a close. xxxxxxxxxxx. Since those early matches were easily combustible when carried loosely in the pocket or purse, special containers were designed to hold the matches. The first containers Walker used to hold the matches he made and sold in his chemist’s shop were round canister-shaped tin boxes that cost two pence each and held 100 matches. There was no roughened surface on the boxes to ignite the matches but rather a piece of sandpaper was inserted for that purpose. Walker never patented his invention and others took his ideas and spread them around the Western world. The containers that held these later matches were called Vesta cases in England and match safes in the United States. xxxxxxxxxxx. In the United States, one of the most dedicated manufacturers of match safes to hold friction matches was the Gorham Manufacturing Company, and the most prolific period for the production of match safes was ca. 1870-1920. Sources record Gorhams last ornate match safe (Vesta) was offered in 1923. Worldwide, well over 2,000 styles were produced during that half century, and materials used for this special art form were; Sterling Silver, enameled iron, platinum, gold in any grade or color, a Japanese style called mokume gane (resembling wood grain), copper, silver plated (EPNS - England), and bronze.

XA - B162 & 182 - Excellent condition