Bari and I have been collecting cloisonné matchbox holders since 1979. Way back then, finding a nice one in a cluttered antique shop was an event. Now we search on eBay, less fun but far more productive. We display most of them on the plate rail in our dining room. As of October 2003, we have about 170.
Each is a miniature work of art, typically 2.25" x .75". Both sides of each holder are shown below. The back side is usually similar to the front, but some are hybrids with front and back very different. Each holder is unique, but they fall into categories by theme (dragons, florals, single flowers, others) or by color (black, dark blue, light blue, green, rust, yellow, beige, white). Several have embossed surfaces, a couple are footed, one has a jade insert, one is in a smaller format. The craftsmanship varies from crude (large cloisons) to extremely fine (tiny cloisons). We try to buy only undamaged holders, but we do have some which are chipped. Time takes its toll in any case, pitting often appears in the enameled surface.
Due to space constraints, only thumbnail photos of most holders are posted below.
But click on the following for higher resolution pictures of a few of our favorites,
then use the back arrow on your browser to return.
Matchbox holders are sometimes part of a matched smoking set, with an ashtray and a cigarette box. We try to restrict our collection to matchbox holders, but we have a few sets too:
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In rare instances, old matchboxes have survived inside the matchbox holder. These wonderful little works of art have their own matchbox page.
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