Why Yesterday’s Practicalities Are Today’s Collectibles
July 11, 2024
source: Witchy Vintage
Suppose you are walking in a flea market where the atmosphere is welcoming with the smell of wooden and rusty items when you come across a small, exquisite item. It is a vesta case, an old style one, the silver finish of which has faded but is shining brightly in the sunlight. It may recall your grandfather, who would always have a similar one in his vest pocket, or perhaps the tales that your parents told you about the refinement of everyday items from their generation. Vesta cases are small containers for matches and they are the reminders of the fact that even everyday objects were made with elegance and fine craftsmanship.
Vesta cases appeared in the 19th century when smoking was rather popular and matches must be protected from moisture. Depending on the class of the owner, these cases could be made of brass and silver while the rich could afford gold ones; they were usually engraved, and at times, had relief designs and even jewels. The design that they created was based on the trends of the period in which they existed; from the Rococo chandeliers that are characterized by their detailed ornamentation to the Modernist designs of the Art Deco period.
The use of vesta cases came to a climax during a period in which people’s belongings especially personal accessories played a big role in defining ones status and style. Having a nice case in this society was exquisite and was a symbol of class. They were not just practical as well as they were also presented as gifts and the recipients often had their names or messages engraved on them, therefore they became valued possessions. The evolution of the society’s perception on smoking made the vesta case shift from an everyday use item to being an antique piece of work, showcasing the art and design of a different generation.
Today, antique vesta cases are considered valuable treasures, and their collectors’ items, especially among those interested in antiques for smoking accessories. Every vesta case has a history, the history of the owner, the history of maker and the history of the society at the time it was made. Antique collectors greatly value these cases because of the history behind them, the detail of the engravings, and the insight into the usage of the item in the past.
Therefore, vintage vesta cases are not only old items but they are history books that illustrate the cultural life of previous eras. They inform us that history is always hidden in the things we use every day and do not even pay attention to. Thus, storing and researching them, we preserve the memory of the time when artistic approach brightened the everyday life.