An 18th century Welsh tinder box. Nicely shaped sliding lid to reveal two compartments. These were used for storing the flint, steel and dried tinder. It also has an old damper, probably a replacement.
Tinder boxes were used  to create a flame within the box, using the flint, steel and dried tinder, for lighting candles and fires. The internal lid or similar would then dampen out the flame. Not a great deal of these boxes survived in wood, metal was the prefered option .because of the fire risk.