Possible matchstick case with hieroglyphic design

[TheLittleMan]

From the pictures you can see some of the designs and with this little piece excites me. Talk about fancy! It came from the ground green, so it’s likely copper (or mostly so). On this property I’ve also found two WWI-era buttons and two pennies from 1887 and 1914, as well as a whole lot of trash. Any idea if this really is a matchstick holder or something else? And idea of province?

 

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[Gene Mean]

Very cool piece! Tells a nice tale.

 

[Mudflap]

Neat!

 

[Wildcat1750]

Very mysterious...

 

[ArfieBoy]

Could it possibly be a cigarette holder? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Red-Coat]

Cool item.

From the size, I would guess it's more likely a cheroot/cigar case, missing the insert that acted as the closure and would have been silver plated copper-rich alloy. Pseudo-Egyptian hieroglyphs were popular on smoking-related items from around the late 1920s through to the 1940s and again after the war. Lots of places it could have been made and many such items were made in Japan for sale in the west under western brand-names.

 

[TheLittleMan]

Cool item.

From the size, I would guess it's more likely a cheroot/cigar case, missing the insert that acted as the closure and would have been silver plated copper-rich alloy. Pseudo-Egyptian hieroglyphs were popular on smoking-related items from around the late 1920s through to the 1940s and again after the war. Lots of places it could have been made and many such items were made in Japan for sale in the west under western brand-names.

Great info. Thanks!

 

[dognose]

interesting item for sure.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Agree with it being a case of sorts rather than a match-safe. Redcoat is spot on with his assessment as you can see some of the remaining silver plating on the second pic. I see cattails, waterfowl, snakes, sharks, butterflies, boats, etc, an item probably manufactured overseas (Asia) marketed to sportsmen/hunters pre-war is my take. Nice find.

Cool item.

From the size, I would guess it's more likely a cheroot/cigar case, missing the insert that acted as the closure and would have been silver plated copper-rich alloy. Pseudo-Egyptian hieroglyphs were popular on smoking-related items from around the late 1920s through to the 1940s and again after the war. Lots of places it could have been made and many such items were made in Japan for sale in the west under western brand-names.