Every House Had One In The Early 1900s — Now It's The Vintage Find We Want For Our Fireplace

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Most homes today have lighters for every occasion — a disposable pocket lighter for lighting birthday candles, utility lighters for firing up the grill, and a sleek Zippo for a cigar on the veranda. But prior to the 1960s, matches were ubiquitous. Today, vintage matchbooks are trending, but even these transportable books are relatively modern introductions. Instead, wooden matches ruled untilthe mid-20th century, and homes were affixed with metal, largely brass, wall-mounted match holders. 

Ranging from simple utilitarian styles to ornate and sculptural designs, these holders were affixed with simple containers to store and strike matches and keep them out of reach of children. Today, they're the perfect option to do just that — while adding vintage flair — next to your fireplace. Thanks to their diverse range of value and craftsmanship, vintage and antique styles today vary in price from $50 to $500 and beyond. So, regardless of your budget or aesthetic, there is one of these unique holders waiting for you to keep vintage home decor alive.

Depending on your use and preferred aesthetic, there is a surprisingly large array of match holders. The most common options will hold standard matches (a little under two inches), though you can find larger ones designed for fireplaces that will hold longer matches. Along with brass — a treasured antique item dominating thrifting trends — other designs are crafted from tin, while some ornate pieces are even made from cast iron with detailed scrollwork and filigree.

Hang a wall-mounted match holder by the fireplace to use as it was always intended, position one by the front door as a catch-all, or next to a desk to hold pens. Style a pocket holder in a glass dish on your coffee table, accompanied by vintage matches, or ditch basic bar accessories and put it on your bar cart styled with vintage glassware.

If a wall-mounted option isn't your style, you can opt for a handheld case, which was used from the late 18th century through the mid-1900s by wealthy smokers. Found on secondhand sites like Etsy and eBay, these pocket holders are often sterling silver or brass and feature intricate engraving.