Late 19th Century Hanging Painted Bisque Porcelain Match Striker / Holder

Description

This unique wall-hanging porcelain match striker features a young German girl and a decorative floral motif. The shell below the … more This unique wall-hanging porcelain match striker features a young German girl and a decorative floral motif. The shell below the girl is both the striker face and a receptacle for spent matches. Although not its original intent, this would also make a unique toothpick holder or a beautiful bud vase. Hanging porcelain match holders are less common than their tabletop/mantel counterparts.

This type of match striker was made to hold friction matches of the type invented in 1827. Friction matches became known as lucifers and were used until the invention of the safety match, which would ignite only when struck on a special surface. The lucifer, on the other hand, was highly combustible and ignited with the least amount of friction. To store these early matches, special containers were needed to protect the matches from rubbing surfaces and starting accidental fires. Many of these containers are rather plain, but Europe began creating decorative match strikers for the home that moved beyond practicalities and reflected the wealth and status of the owners.

Note: Nomenclature on match strikers is vast. They may also be referenced as match holder, vesta boxes (UK), match safe, match box, match case, and match receptacle per patent records. less