Tinder-Boxes of the World
An article from the Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs describing collections of Tinder-Boxes from around the world.
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Concerning Tinder-Boxes by Christy Miller appearing in the 1903 Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs
In the two preceding articles, I described various characteristic forms of the ordinary, every-day, domestic tinder-box; discussed its usual contents (tinder, flint, steel, and sulphur-matches); explained the manner of its use; and traced its history down to the time of its final disappearance, about the year 1835. I treat now two special branches of the subject.
Towards the close of the long period during which the tinder-box was in use, it underwent various developments. Thus, in 1806, a Mr. John Phillips, of Stone-house, Devon, patented a combined tinder-box and lantern, in which the fire-steel took the shape of a ring attached to the damper. This is, so far as I can find, the only British patent which relates directly to the tinder-box.
Most developments, however, were in the direction of personal tinder-boxes (intended to be carried in the pocket or suspended from the belt) and mechanical tinder-boxes. These require notice next.
Pocket tinder-boxes, like ordinary tinder-boxes, varied infinitely in form and material, and they were made, of course, specially small and compact; but they differed in no essential respect from other forms of the tinder-box. As a rule, they were intended to contain German tinder: not rag tinder.
Two cylindrical metal boxes, both Dutch, having caps secured by chains, are shown in fig. XLI. The shorter (a), which opens at one end only, is inscribed ‘Anno 1779,’ and is covered round its middle with mahogany, in which floral ornaments in brass and copper and pieces of mother-of-pearl are inlaid: the other (b) opens at both ends, and is merely a plain copper tube with a brass band and brass caps.
A somewhat similar box of brass (fig. XLII), from Holland, belongs to Mr. Lovett. It is cylindrical, except for one flat side, and has a hinged lid at each end. Inside, against the flat back, is a long narrow compartment holding a thin elongated 0-shaped steel; while a transverse division divides the rest of the box into two equal compartments, intended to hold the flint and the tinder respectively.
Next come two English boxes of iron (fig. XLIII), in both of which the steel is affixed to the inner surface of the lid. One of these (h) is combined with a corkscrew—telling evidence of the convivial habits of our grandfathers. Two other examples in iron (fig. XLIV) have hinged lids, with a strip of steel affixed either to the side or (as is more usual) to the hinge. The plainer of the two (a) has a steel on both sides and a floral design in brass in-laid in the lid: the other (b) is a most delicate piece of steel-casting, with a group of seven classical figures represented in relief on the lid, and a most life-like figure of a pointer-dog in intaglio (perhaps for use as a seal) on the bottom.
A tinder-box of silver-gilt, and of some historical interest, is exhibited at the Carnavalet museum, in Paris. It formed part of the outfit belonging to Napoleon’s famous travelling-carriage, in which he travelled and lived when on his campaigns.
Boxes of these types, in iron, copper, brass, and silver, may be met with in innumerable forms. They were mainly for the use of smokers, and continued to be made, apparently, after the tinder-box had gone out of use for domestic purposes. Thus the little silver box, with handsomely engine—turned surface, shown in fig. XLV, bears the English hallmark of 1837.
Yet another type of pocket tinder-box is represented by two examples belonging to Mr. Bidwell. One (fig. XLVI), of horn, was purchased from a fisherman at Wick: the other (fig. XLVII: see plate) is central Asian and of ivory, being made out of the hollow tooth of an Indian crocodile, exquisitely carved in open-work, with a half-length female figure at the top. It is silver-mounted and lined with a silver-gilt tube, which contained the tinder. Originally, no doubt, it had a plug or damper of some kind, but the opening is of such a size that the thumb may be used as a damper. To the tip is attached a very handsome and highly-complex silver chain, connecting it with an ornamental steel and enabling the whole to be fastened to the waist-belt if need be.
A still more valuable pocket tinder-box—probably, indeed, the choicest in existence—is also in Mr. Bidwell’s collection. It is a rectangular box of solid gold (fig. XLVIII: see plate), weighing about four ounces and a half, beautifully wrought, and set with enamel and turquoises. The corners are rounded. On each of the two flat sides, a very delicate floral design is worked in relief in the gold. In the centre is a Chinese character meaning ‘longevity,’ in enamel of the deepest blue. Round this are five very bird-like flying bats, of turquoise. Six tiny turquoises form also the centre of as many flowers, belonging to the design worked in the gold ; while many other small turquoises, closely set, form a border round the edge. An inner compartment (also of solid gold) draws out at the bottom, but is secured to the outer case by a strong ribbon of yellow silk, at the end of which is a large bead of red coral. This inner compartment is intended to contain the tinder and flint, while the steel is attached to its lower edge.
The character in the centre may be taken to mean, in conjunction with the bats, ‘long life and happiness’; for in China the bat symbolizes happiness, the words for both being identical. The simple elegant shape of this box and the delicacy of the design worked upon it, together with the contrast between the soft yellow of the gold, the deep blue of the enamel, the light blue of the turquoises, and the red of the coral bead, render the whole a most exquisite object.
Another common form of the pocket tinder-box (using the phrase in an Hibernian sense) was the pocket tinder pouch. This was of leather or some woven fabric, and was intended usually for smokers. A neat English example, made of leather (fig. XLIX), folds up to enclose a piece of German tinder, a small steel (stitched to the leather), and a couple of flints (which slip into pockets). Three other examples shown (fig. L) are more truly pouches, having flaps at the top to close the opening. The leather one (a), with the steel affixed to the bottom, is English; the second (b) Magazine, is of German tapestry work, and the steel is inscribed
Erinnerung
, ‘remembrance’; the third (c) is Japanese and of gold brocade. In this latter, the steel is loose, and intended to be carried inside the pouch with the flint and tinder.
Throughout Turkestan, northern India, Tibet, Mongolia and central Asia generally, a special form of leathern tinder-pouch, intended to be carried on the waist-belt, is in general use. Probably in the high dry plateau of central Asia, a mere leather pouch suffices to keep the tinder dry; whereas in our moister insular climate some form of box is necessary. At all events, these pouches seem to be (to continue the Hibernianism) the commonest form of tinder-box in use in the region indicated. In northern China, too, they were formerly in common use, being known by a term which may be rendered in English ‘ fire-pocket.’ They were worn hanging from the waist-belt, together with the case containing the knife and chop-sticks, or other personal utensils. Now, however, they have been driven out of use by the friction-match, except in remote places.
These central Asian pouches are, as a rule, from three to six inches in length. The flint and tinder go inside, while the steel is affixed to the lower edge. At the top is a ring-handle, by means of which the pouch is attached to the belt. The flap fastens with a small hook or catch. Nearly all examples are ornamented, usually on the flap, but occasionally on the back also, with metal mountings bearing decorative designs, either engraved, open, or repoussé. Usually the mountings are of brass, but sometimes they are of silver, occasionally even of gold.
Apart from this ornamentation, these pouches show singularly little variation, considering the vast extent of the region over which they are in use. Four characteristic examples are shown in fig. LI. One (c) bears, in large Chinese characters on a brass plate, the legend, ‘apricots flower in the spring’; another bears two representations in brass of a fish, and the tail of another fish forms the catch by means of which the flap is fastened. To this latter example is attached, by a string (as is occasionally the case), a concave wooden button. This served primarily, no,doubt, as a toggle, or
netruke
, to attach the pouch to the belt. Mr. Bidwell suggests that it is made deeply concave so that the tinder may be placed in it for convenience whilst the flint and steel are being struck together over it—a very probable use.
An unusually small oval pouch, having on the flap an engraved silver plate, follows (fig. LII: see plate) to display both sides. Dragons and other grotesque animals damascened in gold on the other (front) side of the steel show that it is Chinese. A still finer—probably, indeed, the finest in Europe—is exhibited in the Victoria and Albert museum (fig. LIV: see plate). It is of leather, covered with green satin, overlaid on both sides by heavy plates of solid gold open-work, evidently Chinese. The heavy gold ring or handle is in the shape of a bat with expanded wings, and the pouch is lined inside with thin plates of gold.
All the foregoing are essentially tinder-pouches and nothing more. In other parts of the world, fire-bags intended to contain the pipe and smoking materials, as well as the flint, steel, and tinder, are in general use, or have been until recent years. Mr. Lovett has two (fig. LV) from Rajpootana, both intended apparently to be carried in the pocket or slung from a waist-girdle. One (a) is oval and of some tough knitted material: the other (b) is larger and has three divisions intended to hold the pipe, the tobacco, and the fire-making materials respectively. The latter contains match-tinder, and the wooden tube in which the glowing end of the match may be extinguished and its charred end protected from injury (for match-tinder will not light unless previously charred) is remarkable. The large leather fire-bags, covered with brightly-coloured beads and with long fringes at the bottom, used by some tribes of North American Indians, are also well known.
Miller, Christy. “
Concerning Tinder-Boxes
.”
The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs
, 1903.
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