Antique Chinese Export Vesta Case Locket / Pendant with Figures and Bamboo
Here I have a beautiful Chinese export vesta case / pendant dating from c.1890. It was originally designed to be hung from a gentleman’s pocket watch chain, to hold matches to keep them safe and dry (the ridged bit on the base was for striking them), but today you can pop any little keepsake inside. It’s decorated with a bamboo leaf design on one side, and a pair of figures sitting beneath a blossom tree on the reverse. There’s a small plaque in the centre, engraved with the initials FB / BF. It’s made of unmarked white metal and I believe it’s low grade silver. There’s a small loop for hanging at the top which is soldered closed. As with most vestas, it has a mechanism inside which makes the lid snap shut and this works perfectly.
The main body of the vesta measures 4.4cm long, 3.2cm wide and 1.3cm deep. With the bale, the total length is 5.2cm. Weighs 24.7 grams.
Condition: Very good uncleaned antique condition. No dinks or damage. The lid snaps shut fully and stays closed as it should. Just has the usual marks and tarnish to the silver which you'd expect on an antique item.
Here I have a beautiful Chinese export vesta case / pendant dating from c.1890. It was originally designed to be hung from a gentleman’s pocket watch chain, to hold matches to keep them safe and dry (the ridged bit on the base was for striking them), but today you can pop any little keepsake inside. It’s decorated with a bamboo leaf design on one side, and a pair of figures sitting beneath a blossom tree on the reverse. There’s a small plaque in the centre, engraved with the initials FB / BF. It’s made of unmarked white metal and I believe it’s low grade silver. There’s a small loop for hanging at the top which is soldered closed. As with most vestas, it has a mechanism inside which makes the lid snap shut and this works perfectly.
The main body of the vesta measures 4.4cm long, 3.2cm wide and 1.3cm deep. With the bale, the total length is 5.2cm. Weighs 24.7 grams.
Condition: Very good uncleaned antique condition. No dinks or damage. The lid snaps shut fully and stays closed as it should. Just has the usual marks and tarnish to the silver which you'd expect on an antique item.
Here I have a beautiful Chinese export vesta case / pendant dating from c.1890. It was originally designed to be hung from a gentleman’s pocket watch chain, to hold matches to keep them safe and dry (the ridged bit on the base was for striking them), but today you can pop any little keepsake inside. It’s decorated with a bamboo leaf design on one side, and a pair of figures sitting beneath a blossom tree on the reverse. There’s a small plaque in the centre, engraved with the initials FB / BF. It’s made of unmarked white metal and I believe it’s low grade silver. There’s a small loop for hanging at the top which is soldered closed. As with most vestas, it has a mechanism inside which makes the lid snap shut and this works perfectly.
The main body of the vesta measures 4.4cm long, 3.2cm wide and 1.3cm deep. With the bale, the total length is 5.2cm. Weighs 24.7 grams.
Condition: Very good uncleaned antique condition. No dinks or damage. The lid snaps shut fully and stays closed as it should. Just has the usual marks and tarnish to the silver which you'd expect on an antique item.
