Posted 9 years ago
bekkapooh
(2 items)
This lighter was unearthed on my property in Montville, NJ. Prior to the house being built in 1880, part of the property was the town dump...so who knows what other treasures I may find??
Am wondering if anyone can tell me more about this item? The front has a raised relief of a Pagoda, flowers (cherry blossoms??) and two birds. The back shows 14 stars, laurel (?) leaves and a shield. Am wondering if *perhaps* this item was made to commemorate the American ship the Lady Washington reaching Japan in 1791?
Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!
Nice! Funny you mentioned 1791. That year Vermont joined USA as the fourteenth state. There are fourteen stars above the shield. Just a thought...
The fourteen stars led me to the year 1791 - and the motif on the front made me think about US-Japanese relations and what occurred historically during that year.
I love to speculate & this has me going!
WW1 era lighter.
These type of lighters were popular souvenir items for soldiers serving in France. I have seen the shield side before but not the bird side.
scott
Here is an ebay example with the same shield side:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Rare-Ministere-Des-Finances-WW1-Trench-Art-Lighter-/321785318138?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aebe64afa&nma=true&si=xtL%252FOzJRPFYmBhzoqz%252FAaqqMSNA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
scott
Thanks, Scott, for the info and the link.
Myself knowing nothing about old lighters, would you be able to tell me why in the WW1 era, a shield and only 14 stars would have been used - or do the stripes on the shield represent the remaining 34 states?
"why in the WW1 era, a shield and only 14 stars would have been used - or do the stripes on the shield represent the remaining 34 states?"
Several reasons could explain what MAY initially appear as inconsistent.
Most of these were made in France/ Europe, NOT in the US-- while the shield and stars would be appealing to US servicemen, I don't know that they were created to represent the US SYMBOLS exclusively.
(Stars, shield, etc...) are not always literal/ shouldn't be interpreted as being made in the era that the symbol might suggest. For example-- very few 13 star motifs were actually created during the American Revolution/ Colonial time period.
Some research on the history of lighters will show that this type of lighter is a 20th century product AT THE EARLIEST.
scott
Thank you again, Scott. Very interesting information, indeed!
Last question (on this item, anyway. Hehe): I do not plan to do anything other than display this item. I would like to clean it up further. Would using a brass cleaner on this lighter obliterate any value it may have to a collector (should I decide to sell it, or gift it to someone in the future)?
I wouldn't clean it. The brass patina of almost 100 years speaks to its age.
Most US collectors feel the same way about "cleaning" metal surfaces.
I (and many other collectors) won't buy "cleaned" items, so the available market is diminished should you decide to clean it.
scott