ANTIQUE VICTORIAN BRASS PIG VESTA CASE NOVELTY GO TO BED MATCH SAFE

A wonderfully quirky antique VICTORIAN BRASS NOVELTY VESTA CASE / MATCH SAFE, modelled in the form of a charming:

PIG

and associated with the popular late 19th-century tradition of novelty smoking and bedside match accessories.

A delightful piece of Victorian pocketware / “go-to-bed” ware, combining humour, practicality and decorative appeal in one compact object.

Details

Type: Vesta Case / Match Safe / Go-to-Bed Match Holder

Form: Novelty Pig

Material: Brass / Brass-Type Metal

Period: Victorian Style / Late 19th Century

Use: Match Storage / Bedside Match Safe / Pocket Accessory

Collecting Interest: Novelty Vestas / Animalia / Victorian Brassware

Please refer to the photographs for the exact dimensions, opening mechanism, construction and condition.

Novelty Pig Design

The case is modelled as a:

PIG

with the whimsical character typical of Victorian novelty metalware.

Animal-form vesta cases were especially popular because they turned an everyday practical object into something amusing and decorative.

Common novelty subjects included:

PIGS

DOGS

BOOTS

SHOES

TOOLS

BOOKS

ANIMALS AND BIRDS

Today, these unusual forms are highly collectable.

What Is a Vesta Case?

A VESTA CASE, also called a:

MATCH SAFE

was designed to hold friction matches safely and keep them protected from damp or accidental damage.

Before disposable lighters became common, match safes were everyday personal accessories.

They could be carried in a pocket or kept at home and were made in materials including:

SILVER

BRASS

COPPER

VULCANITE

LEATHER

CELLULOID

Novelty examples became especially fashionable during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.

“Go-to-Bed” Match Safe

Small match holders designed for use near the bedside are often described by collectors as:

GO-TO-BED MATCH HOLDERS

or:

GO-TO-BED VESTAS

These compact objects allowed matches to be kept conveniently beside a lamp or candle.

The pig form gives this example particularly strong novelty appeal.

Unless the original bedside function can be proven from its construction, the safest description is:

GO-TO-BED / MATCH SAFE / VESTA CASE

Antique Brass Character

The brass has developed an attractive aged surface with natural:

PATINATION

TONING

RUBBING

SURFACE WEAR

which gives the piece excellent antique character.

Many collectors prefer to preserve the original aged finish rather than over-polish old brass.

Victorian Novelty Ware

The Victorian period had a strong taste for humorous and whimsical decorative objects.

Small practical items were often fashioned in novelty forms, including animals and everyday objects.

Such pieces were intended to be:

USEFUL

AMUSING

CONVERSATIONAL

DECORATIVE

and surviving examples now have strong crossover appeal between social history and decorative arts.

Collector Appeal

This piece should appeal to collectors of:

Victorian Vesta Cases

Brass Match Safes

Pig Collectables

Animalia

Novelty Antiques

Go-to-Bed Match Holders

Victorian Smoking Accessories

Miniature Brassware

Pocket Antiques

Highlights

VICTORIAN STYLE

BRASS PIG

VESTA CASE / MATCH SAFE

GO-TO-BED INTEREST

Charming novelty animal form

Antique brass patina

Small decorative collectable

Strong Victorian social-history appeal

Excellent display piece

Unusual pig design

A charming antique brass pig vesta case / go-to-bed match safe, full of period character and novelty appeal.

Condition & Attribution

The piece is in honest antique condition with wear consistent with age and handling.

Please expect some degree of:

SURFACE MARKS • SCRATCHES • PATINATION • RUBBING • SMALL DENTS • GENERAL AGE-RELATED WEAR

where visible.

Please inspect the photographs carefully for:

HINGE OR LID WEAR

SEAMS

SPLITS

OLD REPAIRS

MISSING PARTS

DENTS

DISTORTION

The material is described as brass / brass-type metal based upon appearance. No independent metallurgical testing has been undertaken.

The Victorian dating is stylistic unless supported by maker’s marks or provenance.

The description go-to-bed reflects the traditional collecting term for bedside match holders, but no exact original use is guaranteed without further evidence.

Please refer to the photographs for the actual dimensions, weight, opening mechanism, patina and overall condition before bidding.

🖼️ Item Condition:

This item is in honest antique condition. I’ve included detailed photographs to show the condition, size, and weight, so please review them carefully before placing your bid.

This is one of several fantastic lots I have available this week. Whenever possible, I’m happy to combine shipping to help you save on costs!

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💌 Happy Bidding & Good Luck!

— Hannah 😊