Object Record
Images
Additional Images [4]
Metadata
Object ID # |
1961.064.060 |
Object Name |
Safe, Match |
Title |
Tortoiseshell Match Safe |
Lexicon category |
3: Personal Artifacts |
Date |
c. 1890 |
Description |
This is a small, translucent match safe made of out tortoiseshell (something like horn). It is shaped like a book. The texture on the back and front "covers" and the "spine" is intentionally made bumpy (to provide a striker). The other long side is closed and ridged, to provide a striker area for igniting a match head. The top of the safe is closed by thin lid, which has a bit of a lip so it can be flipped open with one thumb. The bottom is closed with a thick plug, not polished to a shine like the rest of the matchbox. The whole thing is held together with small brass nails. On the back "cover" there is some adhesive residue from a previous display label. |
Provenance |
No information on original owner of this item. Last owned by Beatrice McDonald (neé McKinley) who grew up in Bognor, Sydenham Township, Grey County. She married Peter McDonald. Her father, William McKinley, was a blacksmith there (later they moved to Holland Centre). Her mother was Mary Penner of Sullivan Township, Grey County. Beatrice McDonald later lived at Chatsworth, Grey County. She likely was also related to Wm. McKinley Sr. (b. 1819 in Scotland) and his wife Beatrice McKinley (b. 1829 in Scotland). This older couple had emigrated in 1856. They too were in the 1901 census, as were her parents. Beatrice McDonald, was a grand-daughter of William Penner of Sullivan Township, Grey County, who had emigrated from Ireland in the 19th-century. This item may have come from that side of her family, or have been acquired in Canada. The c.1880 map of Sullivan Township present in the H. Belden illustrated atlas of Grey County has the Wm. Penner farm labelled. |
Collection |
Tobacco Accessories Collection |
Material |
Tortoiseshell/Brass |
Dimensions |
W-3.7 L-6.3 D-1.4 cm |
Found |
Grey County, Ontario |
People |
McKinley, William McDonald, Beatrice |
Subjects |
Matches Matchcovers Turtles |