Antique Copper Matchsafe with Chained Lid, Perfect Patina vintage bookends Obvious dryness and cracking as

Obvious dryness and cracking as well as paint loss

The unglazed edge is a bit irregular

so thickly caked with old oil paint it is truly three dimensional

and I think just excellent

Antique Copper Matchsafe with Chained Lid, Perfect Patina vintage bookends Obvious dryness and cracking asTo my eye, this antique copper match safe is a perfect object beautiful form completely wed to function, out of this world patina, and the presence of the hand of its maker all over it. My guess, though I am not 100% certain, is that is it Civil War era. It would make sense for wartime use that the lid be attached via chain to prevent losing it and happily this yielded these gorgeous weld marks attaching the chain to the lid and back of the vessel.