Vesta cases like this one were used to carry short strike-anywhere matches. (One of the early manufacturers of these handy cases took their name from the goddess Vesta, Roman deity of fire and hearth.) Around the turn of the last century, having matches handy was essential to light your stove, lantern, candles, etc. It was a part of life. Another part of life was strike-anywhere matches rubbing against each other in your pocket, lighting you on fire. A vesta case kept you from bursting into flames, and they looked cute in the process. This one is fashioned from in silver with niello stripes.