This is a rare late 1700s/early 1800s antique oak tinder box a beautiful example. Complete with the steel, flint and damper lid.
Unusual to find these boxes in wood.The steel and flint would be used to create a spark in the box, which would light a piece of wood/ taper to then light a candle.This is done in the smaller section of the tinder box known as a hearth. The lid or damper would be used to put out the sparks hence the build up of carbon within the box. Most tinder boxes are metal as wood was not the ideal material to create a spark in.
One of the best examples of a tinder box that I have seen.
It measures 32cm l x 11.5cm w x 6cm h.