The lighter collection

The museum holds around 1,400 lighters. Its wider fire-lighting collection also includes strikers and lamps, which are separate categories of objects. The lighters use different technologies: wick, petrol, gas, electric and chemical designs. Their shared purpose of producing fire was achieved through different mechanisms and substances.

A distinctive group consists of lighters made from cartridge cases by soldiers. Material originally intended for ammunition was given a new purpose as an everyday object.

The collection includes miniature and table lighters. Some resemble bottles, lipstick tubes or cars, disguising their actual function. With these examples, the relationship between the casing and the mechanism is especially revealing: recognising a miniature car does not necessarily mean recognising a lighter.