Manufactured by
Firefly Lighter Company
Owned by
Barnett, Etta Moten, American, 1901 - 2004
Date
1950-2004
Medium
metal with enamel
Dimensions
H x W x D: 1 3/4 × 2 1/8 × 3/8 in. (4.5 × 5.4 × 1 cm)
Description
This is a metal and enamel lighter belonging to Etta Moten Barnett. It is a small refillable rectangular lighter with enameled scenes of San Francisco on the front and back. One side has an image of the Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay. The bridge is rendered in red enamel, the bay in bright blue. Brown hills are visible in the distance and a lighter blue sky with several white clouds are overhead. Stamped into the metal lighting apparatus above the enamel is text that reads “FIREFLY.” On the opposite side is a scene depicting a streetcar on a hill overlooking the bay. The green trolly is shown from the rear at an angle, as if descending a steep decline. There are ae small indistinct figures aboard and white scrollwork on the rear of the streetcar. A white building sits off to its right. In the background is a body of water in bright blue, with green hills in the distance. There is a red banner across the bottom with black text that reads “SAN FRANCISCO CALIF.” Stamped into the bottom of the lighter is text that reads “FIREFLY / SUPER LIGHTER.” There is a small word stamped at the end of the bottom that reads “JAPAN.”
Place made
Japan, Asia
Place depicted
San Francisco, California, United States, North and Central America
Place used
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Etta Moten Barnett Archive
Classification
Accessories and Personal Effects
Type
lighters (fire-making equipment)
Topic
Activism
Actors
Broadway Theatre
Singers (Musicians)
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
A2022.13.1.69
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53766c92c-c4f0-41c8-afc4-d5a89372beea

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page