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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: hija on April 13, 2010, 06:42:46 PM
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A container with a hinged lid, probably pewter from all of the markings. Marked Made In England as well. Approx. 2 7/8" tall, 1 7/8" wide, circumference 6" - the container is unlined, so it probably wasn't used for jewelry. Simple design, more square than round. Probably from the 1800's. Any suggestions, guesses appreciated. Took it to two antique stores, neither had a clue. It's shape and design seems more masculine than feminine. There is no engraving - nothing overtly decorative about the piece. Someone suggested it might have held men's collar stays. Would love to know what this is. It's been in my family for three generations! Thanks. :)
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My first guess would be a match safe. And more important welcome to the forum, we really love this game here :D
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Good guess ironlord I'm goin with you on this one ;)
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If it is a matchsafe, I would think there would be a striker (ribbed area of the metal) somewhere on the outside, usually on one of the edges (bottom would be my guess). I have no guess yet as to what this is. I have some questions...Is there a ribbed area on one of the sides?; What is the thickness (front to back)?; Could we see some different views, especially the markings?
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HI WELCOME!
Agree with the others in that we could use a few more pics...different views please!
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Still a puzzle. There is no striking surface on the mystery item, no ribbed area. Front to back measurement is about 1 1/4". Two pics added. :) And thank you all for your help!
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Wayward as far as a striker I have a few match safes with no strikers. what they lit the match on is beyond me but not all seem to have them. most I have are more ornate than this also.
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I think they used to strike them on whatever was near them. Didn't someone on this forum recently post a table that had scratches all over the bottom from matches? Rocks, furniture, anything really...
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The really tough guys probably struck the match on their face (shaved whiskered cheek). Wendy, are the match safes with no striker earlier? The striker may have been added because the womenfolk were tired of the men striking matches on whatever they could find including the furniture. :) Maybe this was for a small box of matches?
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To funny wayward :D They made match strikers which were an ashtray type thing that holds matches with ruff sides to strike match this was placed on a table like an ashtray. match holders & ashtray combos,They made match boxes in round, square, rectangle shapes with covers placed on table, match holders open tops to be hung on wall like a picture, holders in many shapes say a small wheel barell to be placed on tables open top and match safes smaller than the rest with covers to be carried with you in pockets.
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Still need another pic....one of the markings that you mentioned previously. Including the England reference!
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I'm with the "match safe crowd." Matches could be lit in a ton of ways. I remember watching a match being lit by someone using just their fingernail. Seen that lots of times. Gives you sort of an idea how long I've been around. Been around long enough to warn everyone, "Don't get old, it's bad for your health."
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The thing that is buggins me is the way the hinge is made. This type is more typical of tin/metal. But...I guess pewter could be done that way...just haven't seen one.
Need to see the marks to see what this is made of.
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Thought I'd successfully attached the pic of the markings.... :-\ gonna try again...
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EPBM is electroplated Britania Metal. Here is a Wikipedia article that explains Britannia Metal (A pewter-like alloy) and when electroplating became popular (about 1846)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_metal)
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Found your hallmark! Here is information on the company that made your match safe (or ??) James Dixon & Sons:
http://www.silvercollection.it/electroplatesilverDdue.html#DIX1 (http://www.silvercollection.it/electroplatesilverDdue.html#DIX1)
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Here's a link to a thread mostly about James Dixon & Sons. I didn't read the whole thing but at least one of the posters worked there.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11434&page=8
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From an outsider point of view...I immediately thought either cigarettes or tea holder for some reason...
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Well, we've established an origin and a manufacturer for this box that has us stumped. And I sure couldn't have done it alone! Thank you to everyone who sent links and suggestions. Funny, but the original question remains - what the heck is it? There seems to be a concensus that it is a pewter matchbox. Second and third questions - who in 2010 would purchase such an item, and why?
and wait until you see the next item I'll bring before you. :D
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Items that they made that this could possibly be:
Carrier for perfume bottle
Carrier for small flask
Thought match but don't believe so because no striker area
Carrier for smelling salts
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Hija many people collect only tobacco related items in this day & age. Photos of a few I have the small lighter is a puppy & opens mouth to light :D
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One more to share.
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Nice pieces Wendy. The one looks like it has abalone shell on it!
Highly collectible!!!
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Cool 'bacco items , wendy177 .
hija , I'm curious to know if there's wear-marks inside of your little item (sides & /or bottom) , such as would/might be caused from removing/inserting an item inside of it , such as suggested by KC ...
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Could it be a humidor?
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MarieA I do not think it is a humidor as they are larger than 2 7/8" tall & 1 7/8" wide.
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The shape and hinge come really close to a black powder tin that JD & S made during the civil war. The powder tin is much bigger, though.
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x105/winffup/DSC08478.jpg)
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x105/winffup/DSC08481.jpg)
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x105/winffup/DSC08485.jpg)
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x105/winffup/DSC08486.jpg)
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Because there is no closure (hook, clasp) on the lid, it seems the match safe (if that is indeed what it is) wasn't made to travel, but more likely to sit atop a table. I doubt it contained any liquids or powders - if the container were to be knocked over, the contents would spill. ::)
It has no scratch marks on the inside that would indicate a pattern of usage - it still has us collectively stumped!
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Boy oh boy, at least I now know how the read the marks on the "What the Heck is this?" piece. Still don't know its original purpose - looked at so many match safes online - none in anyway resembled this little box. Too small to be a tea caddy, wrong shape to be a cigarette case. Lots of us here at A-s.com have invested much time, to no avail. So the James Dixon & Sons EPBM item is headed towards eBay - wish me luck! And thanks for your efforts. :)
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hija, best of luck.
Sorry we couldn't resolve this.
Was most likely a special made item.
Let us know how you fare on the sale!