Antique Cast Iron Western Style Boots Match Safe articulated toy 2 3/4" tall

2 3/4" tall

5 3/4" tall x 3 1/4" wide

8 plates in red and black

presumed early 20th century

7 1/4" long x 1" wide x 3/4" deep

Antique Cast Iron Western Style Boots Match Safe articulated toy 2 3/4" tallI've found a few twins of these old cast iron boots, dating them to sometime between the 1850s and the late 1800s, when apparently they were commonly seen in saloons and cigar shops, where they functioned as match holders. I do rather love the vision of a series of them lined up along the bar in a lively saloon somewhere out west, serving up matches to cowboys! Especially fun with this pair is that the bolts that secure the boots to their iron base