Golden Realm is located in beautiful Downtown Savannah, Georgia. We specialize not only in vintage, antique, and rare jewelry, we are also Master Jewelers that create, size, and repair just about anything you could possibly desire! We also specialize in rare Estate finds including Vintage and Antique trinkets, Bobbles, art! You name it! Here is what we are offering for you on !
Late 19th, Early 20th Century Match Safe in Sterling Silver!Isn\'t this an awesome find! In doing some research on Match Safe\'s, I came across some fascinating information about them.
(Please read below pictures for the history of Match Safes!)This Sterling Silver Match Safe is in good condition showing some minor scratching from everyday use. It has a beautiful filigree design on both sides. (A BRIEF HISTORY OF MATCH SAFES By Neil Shapiro)
EARLY MATCHES AND MATCH MAKINGThe first friction match was made by John Walker, in Stockton-on-Tees, England in 1826. By 1840, friction matches were in use in many parts of the Western world. The 180 year history of the match includes matches that had heads made of chlorate of potash and sulphide of antimony which ignited when dipped into small bottles of sulphuric acid, called “instantaneous light-boxes.” Another type was the sulphur match, a small wood splint that was dipped into melted sulphur and carried in tinder boxes. It was not struck and was primarily used to light candles after it was ignited from the burning tinder. The match that we recognize today is the friction match that Walker invented and actually bursts into flame when rubbed against a roughened surface.The evolution of the friction match later included the addition of phosphorus to facilitate igniting the match. The use of phosphorus in the manufacturing of matches was an unfortunate period in the history of the 19th century as they were manufactured in poorly equipped “factories,” mostly by young girls. The working environment often caused a condition called “phossy jaw,” or necrosis of the jaw bone. The dangers from the use of phosphorus in match making lasted close to eighty years with the loss of hundreds of lives and the disfigurement of hundreds of others. The poor working conditions, long hours, low pay and the health risks finally caused the British government, in 1861, to form a commission to study children’s employment. Part of that commission’s report found that children were sent to the factory instead of school as the wages were desperately needed by the family, the working conditions lacked ventilation, the factory smell was suffocating and the sanitary conditions horrid.In 1886, the first strike by an all women’s union, “the match girl’s strike” attempted to change the work conditions but failed. Much in the industry remained the same throughout the world until 1911 when the Diamond Match Company, in the United States, offered its patent for making non-toxic matches to the public. In 1915, the Diamond Match Company was awarded the Louis Livingston Seaman Medal for the elimination of an occupational disease and the diseases caused by phosphorus in the manufacture of matches finally came to a close.MATCH SAFESSince those early matches were easily combustible when carried loosely in the pocket or purse, special containers were designed to hold the matches.
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