Carved Victorian Boot Match Safe amber pendant necklace The level of detail and

The level of detail and the interplay between form and surface treatment on this contemporary ceramic vessel is sophisticated and surprising

and with an unused back for addressing and sending it yet

often making them as much design object as teaching tools

was I believe made by the Zanesville Stoneware Company

with light wear to the exterior and what appear to be several broken sweetgrass stitches on the lower half

Carved Victorian Boot Match Safe amber pendant necklace The level of detail andBoot shaped match safes were definitely a thing one finds carved as well as cast iron versions shaped like cowboy boots as well as Victorian boots, which I believe is the case with this one, which I believe dates to the end of the 19th century. I'm a sucker for a carved shoe or boot to begin with, and even better if serves a function! The finish to the wood is well worn, particularly on one side, but there are no notable chips or cracks and it remains