I think it's a match holder but I'm not sure

I found this small holder (only about 2" tall) and I believe it is for matches but I'm not sure. Any info on it's use and a possible date would be great. It's marked on the back GERMANY. Thanks so much

 

business card holder........?

 

I thought that for a bit but the size seemed rather small.

 

Could be a match holder, but perhaps komokwa was on the right track and maybe it's a calling card holder? Weren't calling cards smaller than today's business cards?

 

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh... for cards, calling cards, rack cards...

 

card holder

 

Beat me to that!

 

They were both smaller and much larger....

I came upon one that's smaller than an open match pack, & mine from the late 70's was 2/3 rds the size of a standard postal envelope.

 

I'm in the mood.... Don't tempt me Komo...

 

YOU ?

You don't need much tempting !! ..

 

Ha!!!!
I'm tired from working on that house so....

 

Everyone deserves a break now and again !!!

 

I've seen MANY calling-card cases, and quite a lot of them would quite comfortably hold a quantity of modern business-cards with no problems.

I'd say this is for holding postage-stamps, and would've sat on your desk next to your inkwell.

 

Agree on stamps.

That's a nice cold painted thing and would sell rather well here.

 

I just noticed the little bird on the extended hand. One with a long tail and maybe a seed-eating bill. I could narrow it down if we knew the location, assuming it's realistic.
Is the cap Asian? Indian?
The more I look at this, the mire I like it. Really appealing.

 

The hat appears to be a fez usually associated with the Ottoman Empire. Today in many Muslim contries it is considered politically incorrect to wear one for it was a sign of oppressors, the Turks, who subjugated much of that region for decades. However, in Morocco it is consisted a National symbol, a protest against the French occupation.

"In 1912, after the First Moroccan Crisis and the Agafir Crisis, the Treaty of Fez was signed, dividing Morocco into French and Spanish protectorates. In 1956, after 44 years of French rule, Morocco regained independence from France, and shortly afterward regained most of the territories under Spanish control"

--- Susan

 

BTW, I really am unsure what this is. At first I thought a match holder, but the shape just isn't right as well as stand-up match holders should have a rough surface on the side, near the bottom or somewhere to strike a match. I haven't seen a stamp holder/dispenser like this either, but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there. I suspect a card holder is probably what it is.

I have seen Turkish boys wearing a fez on definite match box holders and believe on bronzed desk sets. Here are a couple of the match box holders.

https://www.rubylane.com/item/370999-2404/Antique-Bronzed-Metal-Match-Box78-Holder

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Antique-Bron...Holder-Figural-Arab-Fez-Arabian-/351704716909

--- Susan

 

Hi Gila,
You sharp eyed little vixen. All of the times I looked at the boy I never saw the bird, was more interested in the holder itself.
greg

 

I still think it's a card holder , specially with the boy alluding to, " a bird in the hand......" ....

 

We have to be practical about this. If it's only two inches tall (and by the looks of it, only about 1in wide?), then I just don't see it holding business cards. How many people do you know have business cards an inch wide?

Given the dimensions, I still think it's for holding postage stamps.