Burnell and Rowe

Description

This is a smart Art Deco Sterling Silver Matchbook Holder. The holder is rectangular, as you would expect, with engine turned stripes and a blank cartouche. The interior is gilded.

From the 1920s onwards, matchbooks were readily available as a cheap and easily stored form of tear off matches for smokers. Indeed many clubs, hotels and bars gave them away for free as a form of promotion. For those who wanted a little more elegance, they would pop the matchbook into a silver holder such as this one.

The holder is made in Birmingham by silversmiths and jewellers Smith & Bartlam and dates to 1931. Founded by Edward Smith and William Bartlam in 1901, the firm produced a lot of smoking related silverware such as cigarette boxes, matchbox covers, vesta cases, cigarette and cigar cases and matchbook holders such as this one. They remained in business up until around 1950.

Whilst the matchbook holder has definitely seen some use, overall condition is good with just a little bit of a ripple on one edge of the lid a few minor dings commensurate with spending most of its life in a pocket or handbag. The hinge and clasp are in good working order. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The matchbook holder measures 5.8cm / 2.3ins x 4.3cm / 1.7ins and weighs a respectable 21.8g / 0.77oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks, on the inside of the lid, are well struck and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the anchor assay mark for Birmingham, the date letter G for 1931 and the S & Bm makers' mark for Smith & Bartlam.

Shipping in the UK is £5 by Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Overseas customers, please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.