WE SHIP! The AEAA is very proud to present this stunning pair of ca. 1905-1915, marked Sterling silver vestas (match safes). The first is by Roden Brothers, in a traditional style smooth case with the Quebec City, Montreal seal, which is very Rare! we also have a Frank Whiting rounded rectangular floral carved and monogrammed example also from 1905 to 1915. Both have round bar springs, and weigh 50.8 grams, with the larger measuring 1.625 x 2.625 inches tall. These heirlooms are from the living estate of Ailene & Buddy Ford, noted dealers and lifelong collectors of valuable antiques. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Internationally, well over 2,000 styles of match safes / Vestas were produced during the 1870-1920 half century. Repousse Rococo, Italian Renaissance, Louis XIV, Art Nouveau, and later Art Deco styles were prevalent. Materials used for this special art form were; Sterling Silver, enameled iron, platinum, gold in any grade or color, a Japanese style called mokume gane (resembling wood grain), copper, silver plated (EPNS-England), and bronze. The Vesta has become a prime collectible, and are very valuable. NON-SILVER VESTAS WERE ALSO KNOWN, in the form of German Silver (the silvery-white alloy made of copper, nickel and zinc. This alloy contains no silver at all!) Bristol Mfg. of N. Attleboro, Mass. presented their exclusive alloy Silveroin, with the trade name used from 1895-1915, and constituted a proprietary, non-silver alloy that has the malleability & looks remarkably like legitimate Sterling silver. The Keystone Watch Co. also had their own nickel, tin & zinc alloy, called Silveroid, used in early watch cases.

Very good to excellent XA - B226