Vesta cases, also known as match safes, are small boxes that are used to carry matches and keep them safe from the elements. Vesta cases are often intricately crafted and considered small works of art, which why these match cases are very popular with collectors of antiques.
In the early 1800's, it was common to carry matches, since some type of portable fire was needed to light lanterns and stoves. The matches of that day were crude compared to today's standards, and were known to light when making contact with each other, and sometimes even spontaneously. In order to alleviate this potentially hazardous situation, it made good sense to utilize a vesta case or match safe.
One of the more interesting features of the vesta case or match safes is that they almost always include some type of rough or ribbed surface, usually on the bottom of the case that is used for striking the matches.
Match safes, or vesta cases can been found in countless different styles, materials and shapes. Metals used for making vesta cases range from tin, brass and silver to the more expensive precious metals like gold. Vesta cases can also be found in natural materials including bone, wood and ivory. While the most common size of the vesta case is small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket, larger cases were also made for home use. These larger cases or safes were commonly placed in areas where fires were often lit, for example, near wood burning stoves or fireplaces.
Vesta cases can still be found and purchased today for either personal use or to include in a collection. For a visual example of vesta cases, here is a small sampling of some of the vesta cases and match safes that can be found eBay, an online auction website:
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 SELTENER ANTIKER MESSING ELEFANTENKOPF STREICHHOLZ SAFE VESTA ETUI UM 1900 EUR 75,59 |
 SELTENES ENGLISCHES MASSIVES STERLINGSILBER EDELSTEIN AUGEN TEUFEL VESTA ETUI um 1980 EUR 261,66 |
 HERVORRAGENDE SELTENE ANTIKE STERLINGSILBER GELDBÖRSE TYPÖFFNUNG VESTA ETUI LONDON 1879 EUR 325,62 |
 SEHR SELTENES ANTIKES VESTA ETUI STERLINGSILBER ZUM BETT GEHEN 1888 EUR 343,07 |
 SELTENES ANTIKES STERLINGSILBER VESTA ETUI MIT TOTEM KOPF GEPUNZT BIRMINGHAM 1865 EUR 313,99 |
 RARE Victorian Sterling Silver DOUBLE Vesta / Match Safe h/m 1901 Arthur Cook EUR 219,79 |
 Antik Sterling Silber seltenes Klapp Vesta Etui von Philip Morris gepunzt 1919 EUR 269,86 |
 SEHR SCHÖNES SELTENES DESIGN ANTIK STERLINGSILBER VESTA ETUI LONDON 1871 EUR 255,85 |
 Seltene Neuheit versilbertes Vesta Etui & Stollenschneider KK Patent ELZX EUR 174,44 |
 SELTENER TRICK OPENIN ANTIK STERLINGSILBER VESTA ETUI GEPUNZT BIRMINGHAM 1886 EUR 290,73 |