A
light will strike in the hearts of silver collectors this summer
when a large and rare collection of antique matchboxes – some
worth up to 1,200 – goes under the hammer at Bonhams Knightsbridge
on 19 July. The 300-strong collection of Vesta cases is collectively
expected to fetch around 20,000.

The lifetime collection of renowned entrepreneur and celebrity
illustrator Willy Aractingi (b. New York, 1935) is to sell at
the auction of Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu. Aractingi,
who achieved star status in artistic circles when he became
the first – and only – person to complete illustrations for
each of the 238 "Fables de la Fontaine" died recently
in Barcelona at the age of 72. His widow has decided to sell
his collection of Vesta cases – built up over decades and sourced
from all over the world – so that other collectors have the
opportunity to acquire some of the rare and unusual examples
that he found.

The days of striking a match against a piece of precious metal
are long gone, but Vesta cases – so-called after the Roman Goddess
of the hearth and home – are delightful and popular collectable
pieces, which consistently perform well at auction. It is unusual,
however, to find such a comprehensive and yet extremely varied
single-owner collection in one sale. Full of character and varying
in estimate from 60 – 1,200, the Willy Aractingi collection
features Victorian and Edwardian cases of various interests,
including equestrian, yachting, royal, military, theatrical,
hunting, political, novelty and artistic from English, Continental
and American makers.

Until the 20th century matches were known as ‘Vestas,’ and
it was essential to carry them in a case as they were highly
flammable and needed to be kept dry. The inside of the case
would often be gilded to protect the silver from the sulphur
head of the match, which would otherwise tarnish the silver.
These cases were mostly in use between the 1860s and the 1940s,
loosing their popularity when the safety match and pocket petrol
lighter were introduced. Vesta cases were carried primarily
by gentlemen in a waistcoat pocket or on a ‘double Albert’ chain
alongside a pocket watch.

Willy Aractingi began collecting antique Vesta cases and scent
bottles during his days heading up a cosmetics empire while
living in Beirut and Cairo. Moving to Paris in the wake of the
Lebanese war in the 1970s, Aractingi burst onto the celebrity
art scene when he embarked upon the monumental project of illustrating
each of Jean de La Fontaine’s fables, which were published towards
the close of the 17th century. Hardly any of these ‘fables’
were of La Fontaine’s own invention. Like Shakespeare, he transformed
prosaic old materials – from Aesop, Hindu and Persian sources
– into living poetry, which this maverick collector then immortalised
in paint.

For more details visit the Bonhams
web site.