This is a Victorian figural match box stand with it's original 'luminous' holder, made of cast-iron for Bryant & May, and dating to the mid to late 1880's.

The stand is in the form of a donkey, with a block on it's back, over which, the matchbox cover is placed.

The base of the donkey has 'BRYANT & MAY' in raised letters & is affixed to a tray (presumably to hold the spent matches) which has the Registered Design No. '22410' on it's base (the design was registered to the manufacturers Wright & Butler in 1885).

The matchbox cover is original to the donkey, & is the one that features on the Bryant & May 'Donkey Match Stand' advertisements of the late 1880's (when they cost 1 shilling each ! - see pic 11).

The large (size 3) cover was one of the first lithographed Bryant & May covers, & was advertised as the 'Luminous Match Cover'. The front has a 'glass' covered luminous tablet featuring a scene of a Lady feeding birds (entitled ????? Rose), & the rear of the cover has the Royal Coat of Arms & 'B & Ms PAT'.

This holder can be found on page 116 in the Alsford/Schiffer book 'Match Holders', & in more detail in 'Collectable Match Holders from Bryant & May' by B Swithenbank.

Condition of the donkey is good & original, with no cracks, splits, or other damage. As would be expected on an original & untouched example, it has a covering of light surface rust all over, with a few small areas of pitting to the base of the tray.

Condition of the Cover is fairly good, given it's 125 odd years. The cover is structurally sound & the tablet is Fine (although no longer luminous), but there is loss to the colour / design and, as expected, light surface rust.

The donkey is approx 4 1/4" high without the cover (approx 10.3cm), & 5 1/2" long (13.9cm). The cover measures approx 3" x 2" (approx 7.6cm x 5.1cm).