Brass Match Safe Holder Victorian Cherubs and Gondolas

This match safe is a wonderful piece of the Victorian era; before safety matches existed, stick matches needed to be stored carefully and conveniently. Their highly flammable tips had to be dry and safe, therefore, matches were kept in fireproof containers, called match safes. Wall-mounted safes were usually placed in handy places such as near lamps, stoves and smoking stands.

This brass match safe features cherubs and Italian gondolas from Venice. The design is rare to find, featuring a wood pattern on its base, cherubs playing instruments on a branch, and cherubs in the gondolas. The match safe has a small notch to use for hanging, and a small space underneath the wells to place a striker.

It measures 5.5" from notch to base, and 4" across. 

The box is around 2" x 2.5" x .75" x .5" with two wells for the matches.