Ferreira Antiques

Description

Tinder pouch - Tibetan: Mechag or Chuckmuck. Tinder and pieces of flint or quartz were traditionally held inside the pouch and a steel striker is attached to the bottom. Being worn on a belt or strap meant that it was always at hand and a fire could be started quickly. It was, therefore, an essential tool for a travelling nomad.

This beautiful example is made from leather with a brass suspension ring with thin strips of steel binding. There are brass studs at the front on top of the steel strips as well as a decorated brass centrepiece with turquoise inlay. The steel at the bottom broke somewhere in its previous life but seeing that these were very valuable and priced items, I'm sure that it still served its owner for years after. I discovered an original little piece of quartz still present inside the pouch.