Tinder-box (length 1 1/2 in) of silver; rectangular

PART OF:
Bryant and May collection of fire-making appliances.
Made:
Bow

Tinder-box (length 1 1/2 in) of silver; rectangular, with rounded corners and steel on back; both top and bottom covered with an interwoven floral pattern, including an angel with lute, in enamel; contains flint (a cut piece of chalcedony) and amadou; bought in 1905 in Antwerp. [One of 34 examples (nos. 730-763) ... of various shapes and materials. All are of iron unless otherwise described. Some are plain, but most are more-or-less elegant, both in shape and decoration. All are probably European.]

Details

Category:
Firemaking
Object Number:
1937-682/747
type:
tinder-box
credit:
Wilkinson Sword Ltd.

Related Objects

[One of] fourteen modern pocket Tinder-tubes [nos. 1180-1193], each with a length of match-tinder, steel, and flint; all probably of French manufacture.

One of fourteen modern pocket tinder-tubes
Tinder-bag in form of a pocket (length 2 3/4 ins) of bead-work; flap held closed by a small pearl button and lined with fine white leather; exterior bears, on one side, a chequered design and, on other side, a flowing design in colours on a blue ground; contains flint (a rough flake) and tinder (amadou); 19th century; bought at Halle, Saxony, 1892. Germany. [One of fifteen examples (nos 910-924, all European and most dating to the first half of the nineteenth century. All small - approx. 3 ins square - to be carried in a pocket. Most are leather, with made of tapestry, wool-work or bead-work. Tinder and flint would be carried inside, whilst in most the steel is fixed to the bottom of the bag].

Tinder-bag in form of a pocket (length 2 3/4 ins) of bead-work
Fire-drill (length 17 1/2 ins) and Hearth (4 3/4 x 1/2 x 3/4 ins); drill, a slender dark-brown twig, peeled; hearth, a thicker stick (apparently of same wood), cut flat on two sides, with three drill-pits (two used), each with a side-notch, on each narrow edge; an uncommon type; from the North Niger district. West Africa.

Fire-drill (length 17 1/2 ins) and Hearth (4 3/4 x 1/2 x 3/4 ins); drill
Fire-steel (length 5 1/8 ins), of thin metal; pointed at bottom; top emerges from mouth of head of a large phoenix-like bird, boldly engraved and life-like; its long tapering twisted neck recurved to form hand-hold; probably 16th century. [NB: One of 19 examples (nos. 487-505) which are all believed to be Persian or Indo-Persian and some to be very old. They are all of peculiar, but elegant, shape. Several are decorated by excellent damascene-work in gold. Together they form a handsome and interesting series which is worthy of special notice.]

Fire-steel (length 5 1/8 ins)
Fire-steel (length 2 1/4 ins); very small and thin; hand-hold in form of two hounds facing one another, in cast brass; modern. [NB: one of fifty-seven specimens (nos. 367-423) believed to be all Spanish, some of considerable antiquity. Most of them were formerly in the Lavedan Collection. The series is remarkable for the excellent artistic design and the fineness of the steel-casting exhibited by many of the examples - these being special features of Spanish steels, which often bear names, initials, or armorial bearings, showing the pride taken in them by their owners.]

Fire-steel (length 2 1/4 ins); hand-hold in form of two hounds facing one another
[One of] Two Tinder-tubes (both length 3 3/8 ins) of silver or nickel, of good class; caps secured to tubes by small chains; tubes decorated by floral designs, engraved.

One of Two Tinder-tubes (both length 3 3/8 ins) of silver or nickel