Antique Copper Matchsafe with Chained Lid, Perfect Patina floating leaves and with a wonderful face

and with a wonderful face that gives him a bit of a seal-like aspect

Very good vintage condition

New Mexico

4 1/2" across the other way

Antique Copper Matchsafe with Chained Lid, Perfect Patina floating leaves and with a wonderful faceTo 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.