Vesta Cases
These pocket-sized cases for carrying matches took their name from ‘Vesta’, the Roman Goddess of the hearth and home. A ‘match’ was known as a ‘vesta’ up until the twentieth century when ‘match’ became the favoured term. It was essential to carry the vestas in a case as they were highly flammable and needed to be kept dry. The inside of the case would often be gilded to protect the silver from the sulphur head of the match, which would otherwise tarnish the silver.
Vesta cases were in great use between the 1860′s and 1940′s. They were carried predominantly by men in a waistcoat pocket or on a ‘double Albert’ chain, which held a pocket watch on one side and a vesta case on the other. The invention of the pocket petrol lighter initiated a decline in the need and use of the vesta case, during the first world war soldiers found the petrol lighter lasted longer and was easy to refill.
By Daniel Bexfield
Daniel Bexfield Antiques
United Kingdom