Skip to content
vesta collection

Blueberry Hill to sell striking vesta collection Oct. 23

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
vesta collection
Brass rooster vesta with glass eyes, circa 1890s. Estimate: $100-$200. Blueberry Hill Galleries image

AMENIA, N.Y. – Blueberry Hill Galleries will a collection of match safes, vestas and match holders on Wednesday Oct. 23. This diverse collection numbers over 600 pieces and has been stored for the past 25 years since the passing of its collector, Julian Marwell. It is now offered by his children with the hope that these interesting collectibles will be appreciated by those who share the same passion. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

Many of the match safes, or vestas as they are called in England, are cast in the likeness of animals, such as Lot 1, the head of a rooster (above). The base of this brass match safe opens when the rooster’s beak is squeezed. Matches are stored inside the bird’s hollow head.

Another animal form match safe is in the likeness of a hound. This exterior of the late 19th century match safe is covered with hide and has glass eyes and a brass nose and mouth. A button on the brass dog collar opens the lid.

vesta collection
Hound’s head match safe, hide-covered brass, late 19th century. Estimate: $100-$200. Blueberry Hill Galleries image

A nicely decorated match safe depicting a scarab tests for 10K gold. The gold bug has red glass eyes.

vesta collection
Nicely detailed scarab vesta, 10K gold. Estimate: $200-$300. Blueberry Hill Galleries image

Some of the match safes promote consumer products, such as advertising Anheuser Busch Malt Nutrine “for healthy appetite and vigor.” The brass match safe features an engraving that depicts a bottle of the low-alcohol beer which Anheuser Busch marketed as a health tonic.

vesta collection
Brass match safe advertising Anheuser-Busch Malt-Nutrine, St. Louis. Estimate: $100-$200. Blueberry Hill Galleries image

Another bygone product was Hunley & Palmers Albert biscuits, named in honor of Price Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. This brass vesta is in the shape of a biscuit. Impressed on the reverse, “Made in Vienna.” It has a striker at the base.

vesta collection
Brass vesta in the form of an English biscuit, made in Vienna. Estimate: $200-$300. Blueberry Hill Galleries image

A Sheffield silver match safe in the forn of a trunk has a nice patina with sterling silver decorative hinges and straps. It is marked “J.D. & S.” (for James Dixon & Sons), an impressed crown, left facing lion and a lower case “n” for Sheffield, 1905.

vesta collection
Sterling silver Sheffield trunk match safe, 1905, monogrammed at the front, ‘HLB.’ Estimate: $200-$300. Blueberry Hill Galleries image

The auction will begin Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

[av_button label=’View the fully illustrated catalog and bid on LiveAuctioneers.’ link=’manually,https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/151505_match-safes-vesta-cases-and-match-holders/’ link_target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ position=’center’ label_display=” icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-8mh0wws’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]

vesta collection