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Victorian 18ct Gold Vesta Case Pendant with Bloodstone Base

794R
40 Admirers Rare Find
Written by Olly Gerrish

A rare 18ct gold pocket vesta case that was made circa 1880. It would have originally been attached to an Albert chain worn across the chest. A vesta case, or simply a “vesta” is a small box made to house wax, or “strike anywhere”, matches. The first successful friction match appeared in 1826. The most successful match maker was Newton who named his matches after Vesta, the Roman goddess of fire and the hearth. In England containers for the matches took their name from the term Newton used for his invention, and they became known as “vesta cases”. This Vesta case is a lovely example and hinges open at one end for the matches and at the other end is a serrated gold area for striking the matches. It has been set with a bloodstone that would have been for a crest or monogram of the owner but has never been engraved. It can be worn on a mid length chain.

Ollys Pick

I love the whole design !

Item Number
794R
Measurements
Height 2cm
From top of loop to base 2.8cm
Width 2.7cm
Materials
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Hallmarks
Unmarked, tested to 18ct gold
Condition
Very Good
Discovered
3 years ago
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