An 18th century cut steel pocket tinder box, of rectangular ...

Hammer

£90

An 18th century cut steel pocket tinder box, of rectangular form, slightly rounded long sides used as a striker, decorated with a dog lying down, 4.5cm x 2.6cm. Note: J. Caspall, Fire & Light in the Home pre-1820 (2000), p. 24, Figure 21, where it is described as English. Compare the 1926 Bryant & May Museum Catalogue, which features an almost identical example [Number 703] with the lid chased with a hart. The explanatory note [p. 48] identifies the boxes as 'all Western European...Most are probably French or German, but some are English.' Many are decorated with representations of game animals or sporting scenes, 'showing they were used chiefly by sportsmen in the field...'