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Street Trades / Matches
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Street Trades / Matches
A Swedish woman selling lucifer matches in the street
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 4307415
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10008119
1865 Lucifer Matches Selling Swedish Trades
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the scene of a Swedish woman selling lucifer matches on a bustling street in the late 19th century. Dressed in traditional attire, the woman holds a box of matches in one hand and extends the other towards a potential customer, inviting them to make a purchase. The street behind her is filled with activity, with people going about their daily business, horses and carts clattering along the cobblestones, and the smell of woodsmoke and other wares wafting through the air. The lucifer match, named for the Greek god of fire, was a significant innovation in the world of matches. Introduced in the mid-19th century, they were the first matches to be tipped with a chemical compound that produced a spark when struck against a rough surface. This made them much more reliable and convenient than earlier matches, which required friction against a sulphur tip to ignite. The street trade of matches was an important source of income for many women in Sweden and other European countries during this period. Selling matches allowed them to earn a living while also providing a valuable service to their communities. The image of a woman selling matches in the street has become a symbol of this era of urban life and the important role that small, everyday trades played in the lives of people. This photograph, taken in 1865, is a fascinating glimpse into the past and a reminder of the rich history of street trades and the everyday life of the late 19th century. The image is available as a high-quality print from Mary Evans Prints Online, making it an excellent addition to any collection of historical photographs or studies of urban life in Europe during this period.
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