General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CARDBOARD/ FABRIC BACKING/ GLASS BEADS/ THREAD

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

12.0 cm

Width

4.8 cm

Height

20.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Lighting Technology

Category

Miscellaneous

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Quebec

Period

Early 20th century.

Canada

This object is from the collection of Denis B. Alsford (1929-2004). Born in Great Britain, Mr. Alsford worked at the British Museum until emigrating to Canada in 1968, becoming a well-known figure in the Canadian museum community. He was curator of collections for the ethnology division in the National Museum of Man in Ottawa for twenty years; planned the artifact storage facility for the Museum of Civilisation in Gatineau, which opened in 1989; and was a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association. His collection of match holders numbered over one thousand; he was active member of the International Match Safe Association & authored several books & articles on subject (see biography in 2004.0024 supp. Info.). The product of cottage industry, this match holder was probably made in the Montreal region, c. 1910; it was possibly made on a reserve for sale to non-natives (ref. 2).

Function

This is a container for matches, which could be used to light candles & lamps, start fires in stoves & fireplaces for heating & cooking, for melting sealing wax for letters, & for lighting cigarettes, pipes etc. This type would be mounted on wall for household use. This example was handmade & may have been intended to be a souvenir.

Technical

This is an example of a novelty wall-mounted match-holder with designs formed of beads sewn to cloth backing, on a cardboard back-plate. Versions of this type were also made with two pockets (ref. 2).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

LETTERING FORMED OF BEADS READS "MATCH/ BOX"

Missing

SOME BEADS MISSING FROM EDGING

Finish

LIGHT BROWN FABRIC - MAYBE DISCOLOURED/ BROWN, GREEN, BLACK & GOLD BEADS/ BLACK SUSPENSION LOOP

Decoration

EDGING & PATTERNS FORMED OF BEADS