Amundsen's waterproof matchbox holder containing three matchboxes

Details

Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1912
Amundsen's waterproof matchbox holder containing three matchboxes
waterproofed cloth and metal, with a sealed screw cap, matchboxes by Nitedals Taendstikfabrik, Christiania
8in. (20.3cm.) long

Provenance

Roald Amundsen, and thence by descent to the previous owner, Amundsen's great-niece; sale, Christie's, 27 Sept. 2006, lot 207.

Exhibited

Bonn, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Arktis-Antarktis, 1997-98, no 263 ('Wasserdichter Behalter zum Trocken').

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. From time to time, Christie's may offer a lot which it owns in whole or in part. This is such a lot.

Lot Essay

There is another identical piece of equipment from Amundsen's South Pole expedition in the Fram Museum, Oslo.

'A match factory gave us all the safety matches we wanted. They were packed so securely that we could quite well have towed the cases after us in the sea all the way and found the matches perfectly dry on arrival.' (R.E.G.Amundsen, The South Pole, London, 1912, p.77)

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