This unique match strike (or pyrogène in French) is a reproduction of those found throughout late 19th and early 20th century France. It was common to see a match striker sitting on a bistro table or bar at that time. The strikers are comprised of two separate parts. First, the top cylindrical container is used to hold matches. And the other, the ribbed surface on its side (or base), is used to strike and ignite the match. In the past, the pieces also served as advertisements. Many companies used items like these to promote their wares and were usually provided to the bar for free.