French Match safe?

[boysilmet]

I've had this item for years, but am not sure just what it is. It appears to be a match safe but opens like a snuff box. It has a scratch pad though, just like a vesta. The marks are as per my pictures. I don't understand what the small chain and hook attached to the lever are for. Anyone seen one of these before? Is part of it missing?

[dognose]

Hi,

Not French, but Austrian. It's a tinderbox, what is missing is just the tinder-cord that would be drawn out by the hook.

If you put the word 'tinder' into the search box, you will find another couple of examples.

See: http://www.925-1000.com/Faustria_02.html

Trev.

[boysilmet]

Excellent! A tinder box. I've heard of them but this is the first I've seen. Thank you!