These small portable boxes were made to contain matches and keep them dry. They take their name from the Roman goddess of fire and the hearth, although in the US they are more prosaically known as ‘match safes’.
When they first came into use in the 1830s, friction matches were hazardous and could combust without warning, so vesta cases were something of a necessity.
The January 16 auction at Lawrences will offer the single-owner John & Patricia McKenzie Collection of vesta cases, comprising around 2700 items in nearly 500 lots. Estimates range from £50-1000. Some of the lots offer multiple cases while others come as singles.
Despite the size of this group – contained in 38 cardboard boxes by the time he came to value it – Lawrences specialist Alex Butcher says a lot of vesta case collectors have in the region of 2000 items. Many are in the US, but others live all over the world, so he is expecting international online interest in the sale.
Lawrences sold a large collection of vesta cases about five years ago but with 200 lots, so this latest ensemble is much bigger. Cases appear in the auction house’s regular silver sales as well – on January 17 a handful from a different source are on offer.
Got an interesting auction coming up?
Let us know… editorial@auctiontechnologygroup.com
