Phosphorus-box (2 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 ins) of thin sheet iron

PART OF:
Bryant and May collection of fire-making appliances.
Made:
Bow
Phosphorus-box (2 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 ins) of thin sheet iron

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Phosphorus-box (2 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 ins) of thin sheet iron
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem

Phosphorus-box (2 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 ins) of thin sheet iron, with contents complete, except matches; rectangular, with hinged flanged lid; exterior lacquered in brown, with small decorative pattern in gilt round edge of top of lid; interior painted greenish-grey; inside lid, a pasted-in printed paper label, slightly mutilated, showing that the box was made by "Samuel Jarvis, "70, St. Paul's Church Yard" and giving, "Directions for "Use"; box consists of six compartments, in three rows; front row comprises a small square compartment for the phosphorus-bottle and a long one for a strip of cork (now broken into fragments, but replaced); next row comprises three compartments, all for matches (missing); back row comprises one long compartment containing a long thin candle-taper, folded several times, and some short portions of same; box recently discovered at Buntingford, Herts; extremely rare; one of only two perfect examples now known to exist; date between 1795 and 1805. England.

Details

Category:
Firemaking
Object Number:
1937-682/1246
type:
box - container
credit:
Wilkinson Sword Ltd.