Late Victorian Match Striker
Friction matches came into being in the 19th century, after their more-dangerous cousins, the chemical match, failed to gain popular use. Matches were ubiquitous, and were used for lighting candles, fires, ovens, and cigarettes etc. Matches were typically kept in either portable vestas, or in match strikers, both of which had a ribbed or rough part for striking the match on.
This pottery match striker is of simple design and is very likely from a public house, where it would have lived on the bar, though it would not be out of place in a gentleman's study or on a household mantlepiece. It is hand-painted with simple pink lines. During the Victorian era, pink was seen as a masculine colour and was worn by men and boys right up until 1940.
The condition is very good with no chips or cracks, their is a slight loss of pink to a very small area of the rim.
Dimensions: 12.5cm x 5cm x 11cm