Antique Treen Tinder Boxes Not The Best Material To Use To Light Sparks

Antique treen/ wooden tinder boxes are quite rare ...why? Wooden tinder boxes are usually rectangular in shape initially dug out from a piece of wood and slightly later the boxes were wall hanging, divided into two unequal sizes compartments. In the larger compartment flint, steel, tinder and sulphur matches were stored and in the smaller compartment known as the hearth the spark was kindled. Sometimes there is a small lid for the hearth which was used to put out any glowing tinder, hence wood was not the ideal material for these boxes. They were often stored near the kitchen hearth to keep the contents dry, many are found scorched from the fire or from spark production. Look out for signs of carbonisation on the interior of the boxes. Finding a wooden tinder box is not common preferred materials were metal and the metal canister type were popular in the 18th century. these canisters had a candle socket on the lid and storage of the flint, steel etc inside. I have been lucky enough to find a wooden canister type probably dating from the late 18th century a rather rare item !