Edwardian Copper Vesta Case, from the Ship Foudroyant.

Antique copper vesta case, made of copper from the ship “Foudroyant”. (Vesta cases are for holding matches - the old Vesta wax matches, which had to kept in metal cases, as they could ignite if rubbed together.  (These items are call Match Safes in the USA).  
According to Wikipedia:  “HMS Foudroyant was an 80-gun third rate of the Royal Navy, one of only two British-built 80-gun ships of the period (the other was HMS Caesar).”  Also to quote an on-line source: “On 16 June 1897 during a violent storm, she parted a cable and dragging the remaining anchor, went ashore on Blackpool Sands, damaging Blackpool North Pier in the process. The Blackpool lifeboat was able to rescue all 27 of her crew. After vain attempts to refloat her, her guns were removed and she was sold for £200”.  This item is in excellent condition, and measures 5  cm high, 3.6 cm wide and 1.5 cm thick. The match striker is under the base, and the bale ring at the top would be where the case was hung from a gentleman’s fob chain.

ITEM REF. No:  C17746

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