Lighter Item Number: Ee49 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A small leather pouch ( part a) with a lunate metal blade fixed to along the lower edge. Flap is ornamented with incised metal bands and brass-coloured bosses. Coral stone is set in the centre. A ring is fixed by a brass plate to the upper edge. Twisted woolen cord attached. Both a white quartz stone (part b) and an orange flint (part c) reside in the pouch pocket.
History Of Use
The flint lighter is intended to be carried in a man's sash in the Ladakhi costume. The chakmak is preferred to matches by people in remote hills because they believe matches are less reliable. This chakmak appears to be quite old, judging by the leather. These lighters are now in great demand as tourist items, which may explain their scarcity and high price. The coral decoration also increases the value.
Cultural Context
man's flint lighter
Item History
- Made in Jammu-Kashmir, India before 1977
- Collected during 1977
- Owned by John Calder and Gloria Masse before May 5, 1978
- Received from John Calder (Seller), Gloria Masse (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on May 5, 1978
What
- Name
- Lighter
- Identification Number
- Ee49 a-c
- Type of Item
- lighter
- Material
- brass metal ?, wool fibre, alloy metal ?, leather skin, steel metal and coral
- Manufacturing Technique
- cut, riveted and stitched
- Overall
- height 6.4 cm, width 13.8 cm, depth 3.7 cm
Who
- Culture
- Ladakhi
- Previous Owner
- John Calder and Gloria Masse
- Received from
- John Calder (Seller), Gloria Masse (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Jammu-Kashmir, India
When
- Creation Date
- before 1977
- Collection Date
- during 1977
- Ownership Date
- before May 5, 1978
- Acquisition Date
- on May 5, 1978
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0426/0024 a-c