A 19th-century matchbox or jar A matchbox is a historical ignition device consisting of a wooden stick dipped in sulfur, which served as a precursor to the modern match. It was used for lighting fires from the 16th century onward. The porcelain jar is German and depicts two scenes: a man smoking a pipe on the front and a group of three women, both depicted in a mountain landscape. The handle, three legs, and the lid are made of Dutch silver, hallmarked with the Dutch "Sword" used between 1814 and 1906. The bottom has ridges for striking the matches. The matchbox has signs of wear on the legs, including old glue residue. The dimensions are 13 cm high and 8 cm diagonally. It weighs 502 grams.