Tinder-bag in form of a small pocket (length 2 1/2 ins) of silk brocade, with flap held closed by a silk cord and lined with black silk; contains flint (a rough piece of jasper) and a very small elegant steel (length 1 5/8 in) with almost-straight twisted tangs meeting at back, stamped with a maker's mark); 19th century. Japan. [One of 14 examples (nos 939-952). All ASiatic. Most designed to be suspended from a belt or girdle. Steel is usually carried inside the pouch together with flint and tinder. Tinder is usually fungus-tinder, but often match-tinder in the form of cotton threads loosely twisted into cord an d inserted into a small bamboo tube or hollow stick].