German Niello Silver “Permanent Match” - Pforzheim 1900

Portable fire-lighting device made by Wimmer & Rieth (Pforzheim), crafted in 900 silver and decorated with a niello (black and silver) checkerboard pattern. Pforzheim was one of the centers for jewellery and silver production around 1900.

The edge of the case features an integrated striker for lighting matches. Inside is a removable insert designed to hold a taper (slow match); the taper is missing from this example. In use, the taper would be lit with a match and would smoulder slowly, allowing repeated lighting of a pipe or cigar, and then be extinguished by reinserting it into the case.

Marks: German crescent and crown, “900” silver standard, and “WR” maker’s mark (Wimmer & Rieth, Pforzheim).
Dating to circa 1890–1910.

Dimensions: 5 × 2.5 cm
Weight: 16.1 g

Condition: consistent with age, showing wear and partial loss of niello; taper missing.
A relatively uncommon and collectible smoking/fire-lighting accessory.