Victorian Silver & Enamel Racehorse & Jockey Vesta Case - James Woodburn

A good quality Victorian silver and enamel Vesta Case of rounded rectangular form with sprung hinged lid and engraved striker to the side, the base engraved with contemporary script initials. The lid with inset enamel panel depicting a galloping racehorse and jockey wearing pink silks and a black cap. The sprung hinged lid opening to reveal a silver gilt interior.

By George Heath, London, 1891.

Possibly depicting the famous Victorian jockey - James Woodburn 1863-1919.

Born at York on September 20, 1863, James began life as a doctor’s errand boy but, wanting to become a jockey, he ran away from home. Covering the 13 miles on foot, he arrived at the Hambleton stables of Mr Sanderson, who took an instant liking to the runaway. Woodburn rode his first winner for the stable on Hagioscope (carrying 6 stone 3 lbs) in 1881, beating Othello in the Thirsk Handicap. 

A steady stream of winners ensued, including the Lincoln Handicap (twice, on Fulmen, 1886, & Lord George, 1891) and the Ebor in 1891 on Buccaneer. In 1889, he won the Stewards' Cup on Dog Rose & the Liverpool Autumn Cup on Philomel. His classic wins came in the 1889 Oaks on L’Abesse de Jouarre and, in the same year, on Minthe in the One Thousand Guineas. He rode his final winner on Lady MacGregor at Birmingham in 1900.
James, who stood at 5 ft 1 & a half inches tall, was a keen fox-hunter, and was often seen out with the York and Ainsty. He was the brother-in-law to Fred Barrett, each of the jockeys having married a daughter of James Goater, the trainer. 
Having ridden work at Newmarket for many years, James suffered a heavy fall and was rushed to the Rous Memorial Hospital where he spent many months recuperating. 

He was eventually discharged, but died, destitute, aged 56, from cancer of the tongue on Monday, 27 October, 1919. He was buried at Newmarket.

Vesta cases, which also go by the name of vesta boxes, matchsafes and pocket matchsafes, were used to stores vestas (short matches) and to keep them dry so that they were able to light when struck. They were first made in the 1830s, with their heyday being between 1890 and 1920, when everyone kept a vesta box to hand, though while the poor had boxes made from tin, the vesta boxes of the wealthy were made from gold and silver. Most vesta boxes had a ribbed surface on the bottom so that the owner could also strike the matches kept inside, while some also include cigar cutters and small knife blades. Steppes Hill Farm Antiques stocks a variety of antique silver vesta cases from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, specialising in enamel, novelty and engraved design

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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