Match stands

All kinds of containers, boxes and small bowls are designed to hold the match, be it a wax match or a phosphor match. At home the most elaborate and luxurious specimen in modern or historic style were used to present such simple thing as a match.

Classical motives match with the interior of the learned, such as the bronze stand in Empire style with a bas-relief of Greek gods on both sides. Cameos, also borrowed from the antiques, come in different forms: painted on colored glass or embossed in ceramic or any other material.

Typical for the Dutch middle-class household are the pots shaped as a pear shaped extinguisher in wood or Italian marble, complete with brass lid. They always have a rough surface on the bottom to strike the matches.

Some objects stand out, such as the bronze stand with the clown in bronze next to the vessel. The design is both amusing and artistically accountable.

The most generally known match stand is the French pyrogène in glass or ceramic, produced in large quantities and a common table object in French pubs for ages. They come when the cigarette makes its general entrée and lighting a cigarette became a pose of fashion in popular culture. Especially the stands with the publicity of a liquor brand name or even more appropriate a tobacco brand, find a vast number of collectors.

Cast bronze match stand in empire style, the top side of the dish has rings to strike the match. France, 1850-1900. Opaline glass match stand with glass painting of a cameo, the sloping foot is meant to strike the match. France, 1860-1890.
A match box in cast ceramic, on the lid a cameo in red and gold, the item varnished in black. France, 1860-1890.
Cast zinc match box shaped like a sarcophagus, the sides show hieroglyfes and on the lid a handle shaped like a reclyning lion. France, 1860-1890.
Ceramic match box with in relief branches and tree trunks, painted in green and red. France, 1860-1890. A match box in cast ceramic, the inside of the lid roughened to strike a match. France, 1860-1890.
Match box in cream coloured stone ware, on the lid a cameo, the inside of the lid is roughened to strike a match. France, 1870-1900.
An open hang on the wall match basket in sheet iron, the front rough to strike the matches. Belgium, 1880-1910.
Impressive match stand in bronze of a standing clown next to a pot as match holder, the base in stone. France, 1870-1900.
A fancy match stand in zinc of a boot with large opening, scratching the match can be done along the front. France, 1870-1900.
Remarkable basket of wrought iron, a roughened shield from the rim of the saucer up. Germany, 1880-1900.
A match container shaped like a extinguisher, brass mountings, the base rough to strike the matches. The Netherlands, 1860-1900.
A match stand in zinc finished in gold paint, a kneeled hunter with a rifle in the field. France, 1880-1900.
A match holder in zinc shaped like a bath tub, the base serves to strike the matches. France, 1880-1900.
Match stand for hanging on the wall, painted in fayence colours. Frankrijk, Quimper, 1890-1910.
The characteristic pyrogène in grey stone ware with rings along the base to strike the match. Belgium, 1900-1920.
The popular Dutch match holders shaped like extinguishers in Italian marble fitted with brass. Italy, 1880-1910.
Large size pyrogène with high conical holder, the outside to strike the matches. Belgium, 1900-1920.
The common type of pyrogène with a stable conical shape and marbled on the outside. Belgium, 1900-1920.
Pyrogène produced for a pub with advertisement for alcoholic drinks named Plumet Apératif. France. 1900-1920.
The common type of pyrogène with a stable conical shape and marbled on the outside. Belgium, 1900-1920.
Pyrogène in stone ware with dish, a beautifull fake marble decoration on the outside. Belgium, 1900-1920. Pyrogène in ceramic, the outside painted as fake marble with brown semi-natural lining. France, 1910-1920. Pyrogène in yellow brown marble with bi-conical holder with concentric rings for striking the matches. Italy, 1880-1910.
Match stand of natural stone with on the shoulder concentric rings for striking. Germany, 1920-1935.
Dutch brass match stand with large container and dish to hold the used matches. The Netherlands, 1880-1920.
Pair of match stands decorated in relief in renaissance patterns, between the panels the match can be striked. England, 1910-1930.
Match stand in patinated bronze shaped like a shoe, the heel of the object serves to strike the match. France, 1900-1920.
Beautiful glass bowl for matches, the outside serves to strike the match. The Netherlands, 1920-1930. Pyrogènes made in pressed glass in ewer shape with heavy bases to strike the matches. France, 1915-1930.
A match stand with figural decoration of a standing man in front of a rectangular box, mass production with painted accents. Germany, Bohemia, 1900-1930.
Mass produced porcelain match stand also serving as ash tray with a humerous theme. England, 1910-1930.
Standard for a match box in Gouda pottery with characteristic colours. The Netherlands, Gouda, Zuid-Holland factory, 1925-1930.

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