A Large & Rare 19th-Century Integrated English Antique Copper Tinder Box & Candlestick Bearing The Impressed Mark Of The City Of York

An exceptional and uncommon survival from 19th-century England, this integrated copper tinder box and candlestick combines utility with regional heritage. Crafted in substantial gauge copper, the piece features a broad cylindrical base housing the original tinder compartment, surmounted by a fixed candlestick socket.

With a broad rim to the candleholder and ribbed stem, the drip pan bears the impressed mark of the City of York, a rare and desirable detail that affirms its provenance and civic association. A secondary maker’s mark—“H W”—is also present on the underside of the tinderbox base, likely referencing a regional tinsmith or metalworker active in the North of England during the mid-19th century.

With a commanding height of 26½ cm (10 3/8″), this piece would have served both practical and symbolic roles in a domestic or workshop setting, offering light and fire-starting capability in one integrated form. The warm patina and honest wear speak to its age and use, while the form remains robust and sculptural.

A fine example of provincial English metalwork, ideal for collectors of antique lighting, civic-marked wares, or early domestic tools.

Provenance – From a private collection of a retired clergyman of Norfolk, England.

Condition – Please refer to the images, which are self-explanatory.

Size – Height 26.5 cm (10 3/8″)