Tinder pouch and stone, used for making fire. The pouch (or 'mechag') is made of leather, and is held by two brass rings and a double looped handle. The purse is almost completely covered front and back with decorated brass plates, beneath which is a layer of red textile. The pouch is held closed by an iron catch on the inside. At the bottom of the pouch is attached a steel plate, used as a fire-steel. A clear gemstone accompanies the pouch, used as a strike-a-light.
These objects are only a part of our collections, of which there are more than 350,000 objects. This information comes from our collections database. Some of this is incomplete and there may be errors. This part of the website is also still under construction, so there may be some fields repeated or incorrectly formatted information.
The database retains language taken from historical documents to help research. Please note that some records may feature language and reflect systems of thinking that are outdated and offensive. The database also includes information on objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.
If you have any further information about objects in our collections, can suggest corrections to our information or if you see content requiring immediate action, please contact us: enquiry@horniman.ac.uk
