Vesta case
Small containers to house these friction matches were introduced shortly afterwards (in the early 1830s), to guard against accidental combustion.
Important and notable English makers of vesta cases included silversmiths such as Mappin & Webb, Sampson Mordan,[2] Asprey & Co., William Neale & Sons, Elkington & Co., Saunders & Shepherd and William Hair Haseler, who partnered with Arthur Lasenby Liberty, the founder of Liberty.
B. Kerr, Gorham, R. Wallace & Sons, Unger Brothers, Battin, Blackington, Whiting, George Scheibler and Shreve & Co.
A well known French jeweller (and politician), Charles Murat, made beautiful art nouveau silver vestas.
As well as plain and decorated square, oblong and round cases, many novelty shapes have been recorded; silver, brass or white metal pigs with hinged heads were popular, as were vesta cases in the form of Mr Punch, hearts, skulls, books, musical instruments (often violas), owls, boots and shoes, bottles, ladies' legs and so on.
More expensive vestas often had a gold wash interior to prevent corrosion by the chemically active match heads.
Decorations were often engraved into metal vestas (with floreate patterns the most common), though other techniques were sometimes used, including repoussé and chasing, guilloché, engine turning, cloisonné, cold-painting, enamelling and niello.
Prices vary considerably depending on a broad range of factors, including the material of manufacture, maker, condition, age, design, rarity and subject matter.
