2p Cara Match Box

by Artist Orla Walsh

€0.00

Acrylic Painting 10 x 12 inches

Cara Matchbox c.1970 Irish Made acrylic on canvas.
I am a ‘phillumenist’  because I collect old matchboxes and I have a good few of the old Maguire & Patterson Cara boxes which are an iconic Irish brand based in Dublin. My favourite being this 2p box. My Grandfather was a wonderful Carpenter and his workshop was on Hammond Lane along side the Cara factory. 

The name 'Cara' means 'Friend' in Irish and the ancient Celts believed in a soul that radiated about the body. They believed that when two individuals formed a deep and lasting bond that their souls would mingle. Therefore, each person could be said to have found their “anam cara“. I love that and thought I would share that with you. 

 
A lot of poetry, song lyrics and poems have also been written in this context, which describes a love match. The idea of setting a spark, of starting a fire, for romantic relationships was the word 'Tinder', (which was originally called Matchbox) and now plays matchmaker between two perfect strangers