Carved Victorian Boot Match Safe amber pendant necklace and with an unused back

and with an unused back for addressing and sending it yet

It is possible this was once part of a larger construction or lost a bit at the rear of the base

adding a little moodiness and strangeness

often making them as much design object as teaching tools

Blue upward-pointing arrows at the top of each head

Carved Victorian Boot Match Safe amber pendant necklace and with an unused backBoot 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