When were Vesta cases invented?

Vesta cases were invented in the early 18th century, shortly after the 1826 advent of the friction “lucifer” matches, which could spontaneously ignite and even explode from friction. Vesta cases were developed to hold the matches to protect them from friction — and the match-holder from danger. Small and compact, these cases typically had a hinged lid and were usually made of gold or silver, and they ranged from very plain to highly ornate. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of vesta cases from top sellers worldwide.