a dog for your matches

Dog in Feathered Hat and Ruffled Collar Matchsafe, late 19th century; England;
silver; 5.9 x 2.7 x 1.5 cm (2 5/16 x 1 1/16 x 9/16 in. ); Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener; 1982-23-1324
collection.cooperhewitt.org
Before matchbooks were common (they were developed in 1892), here's how you carried around your matches.  Friction matches - the kind we know, that you scratch against a surface to ignite - were originally very touchy, and could light up simply from jostling about in your pocket.  What better to keep them safe than a metal box?  I wonder if any ever lit up inside their box and made an inadvertent handwarmer.  If you'd like to learn more about matchsafes, you might enjoy this site on their history.
This box dates from late 19th century England.  The additional images found at its record page at the Cooper-Hewitt show a dog dressed up in Cavalier-style hat and ruff.  Is this meant to be a Cavalier King Charles spaniel?  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

the mimic dog

Image
public domain This is a "Mimick, or Gethulian-Dog," as recorded by Edward Topsell in his natural history of c. 1600.  It's described as "being apt to imitate all things it seeth, for which cause some have thought that it was conceived by an Ape; but in face sharpe and black like a Hedge-hog, having a short recurved body; very long legs, shaggie hair, and a short tail..."  Apparently in ancient Egypt this sort of dog was taught all manner of tricks.  Whatever breed could this have been? Topsell, Edward, 1572-1625?.  The History of Four-footed Beasts And Serpents...  The whole rev., cor. and inl. with the addition of two useful physical tables, by J[ohn] R[owland] M.D. London: Printed by E. Cotes, for G. Sawbridge [etc.], 1658. p. 127.
Read more

let's dance

Image
found at http://discardingimages.tumblr.com Start your Sunday with this trio of performers and their lovely lightness of foot and paw.  Here's a closeup: This scene is found in the manuscript known as "The Maastricht Hours" on folio 112.  Here's the whole page .  You might also enjoy this blog post on " Medieval Dog Tricks " - I did.
Read more

vintage wednesday

Image
Attributed to John P. Soule (American, 1827 - 1904) [Kitten on pedestal], about 1871, Albumen silver print Gift of Weston J. and Mary M. Naef 1871:  a stereographic albumen silver photograph, probably by John P. Soule , in which a kitten takes its rightful place atop a pedestal.
Read more