Older than the hills, we understand that match safes or, in more European parlance, Vesta cases, certainly have a viable place and purpose in modern society.  If your fashionable, independent and/or ingenious enough to wear a man bag, you might want to consider this particular object a safe bet.

But why?

Victorian, Sterling Silver, 19th Century

Especially for those who enjoy the fruits of urban life, the match safe is a particularly useful object to keep in a small purse or fashion bag.  As we are sure you know, residential space in these settings is often limited due to affordability.  Apartments or, if your really lucky, small houses are, more often than not, close quarters.  Paying an afternoon call, accepting invitation to luncheon or attending a soiree in such dwellings often leaves one holding certain natural human movements until they are able to use facilities not in the immediate vicinity of certain social engagements.  But, alas, there may be a solution…

Less Fancy, But Interesting: Antique Match Safe, Circa 1890

As we often find to be the case, certain old remedies for simple and common problems can serve one better than use of modern invention.   This is where the common match and its useful safe come in handy. Remember, the old remedy of lighting a match to reduce a smell?  After an unpleasant or foul odor is created, the prepared boy can reach into the interior of his fashion-savvy sack or pursed pouch to find a certain match safe where a remedy to his embarrassment can be employed. We fear otherwise he will have to hold or even risk grave humiliation in relationship to the natural movements.  And why let there be no joy in Mudville?

Antique English Heavy Sterling Vesta Match Safe, Circa 1900

And, as you may realize, we certainly promote a high aesthetic quality in any particular thing–and especially in the boy’s “emergency case”.  In turn, we have provided a sampling of antique specimens that range from the ornate to the interesting.  As quality, decoration, and material range in these small safes, so do prices.  One can be procured at highest price, well into the high hundreds or even the low thousands, but it is also not impossible to explore your local flea markets where one could easily be purchased in the range of 30 to 40 dollars.

Nickel Plated Brass Match Safe, Complimentary Gift for Knight Templar's at the 1889 24th Triennial Conclave in St. Louis, Missouri

We feel that life is too short to wear big wallets at the discomfort of a hip or ass cheek and hope like hell that with the liberalization of society something as silly and useful as a man-purse may take prominence.  And if so…why the hell not let its interior be completely…match safe!

Wealthy Information:

For hard core serious match safe history, feel free to consult a match safe scholar.

Or

You can even come into association.

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