MASTER

Master mini-matchbox featuring a rather dapper-looking 

rooster. 

MORE HORSES/WARRIOR BABE

Three more examples of horse images, featuring one of my 

favorite back-side images, the warrior babe holding up a 

sword in front of the arena.

SPEED/COW

Another example of the hand-made wooden matchbox.

I am not sure what kind of animal is being portrayed here 

on the SPEED matchbox- arguably a deer or a camel without 

a hump- whatever it may be, it's fast, and the hunter with the 

bow and arrow gives the image a nice mythological quality. 

In contrast is the matchbox image of the mother and calf

with the rising sun behind them, a lovely image of rural India.

BIRDS

Assorted bird-themed matchboxes. From the mundane to the 

sublime, birds are another popular subject for Indian matchbox 

artwork. 'WE TWO' featuring the two love-birds was purchased 

at Hampi in the state of Karnataka.

KISAN/CAMEL

The KISAN (farmer) with his bullocks is a very popular

matchbox image and is still a common sight 

all over India. Even on a busy highway, one can see 

these often colourfully decorated and painted oxen 

pulling the bullock-cart, a symbol of the old way of life. 

The camel/fish combination is a good example of the 

apparently random imagery one comes across in

Indian matchbox art.

CHEETA FIGHT!

I love this particular matchbox, CHEETA FIGHT 

is another popular brand and can be found easily, 

I am not sure if cheeta fighting still goes on

in India, or for that matter, if it ever actually did.

The friendly-looking elephant below is another 

matchbox mainstay, and unlike cheetas, 

can be found roaming the streets of many

Indian cities.

HORSE/POWER

More images of horse-themed matchbox art. 

These two are examples of the extremely cute 

mini-matchboxes one finds, many matchboxes 

are available in both sizes.