Created to help change the mood in a room, striker matches and match strikers work together to light anything from candles and incense to perfume diffusers or wood logs in a fireplace. Ideally, they should also look great anywhere, whether they’re placed on a designer table or near an iconic armchair. With this in mind, we have gathered a selection of the best match strikers we could find. All of them are minimalist and understated but have their own character. They’re also crafted with durability in mind. Tactile and a joy to touch, they showcase the beauty of a wide range of materials, from cast iron to concrete. Before we make you all fired up about your home decoration plans, let’s talk more about match strikers and striker matches.
What are match strikers?
Match strikers are specially designed to replace the classic paper matchbooks. Made from a wide range of materials, they come in various sizes and shapes. They work with strike-anywhere matches, as their surface provides friction so the user can light up match on the side of the object. More often than not, these products double as match holders. Sometimes, they even have an integrated tray or container for used matches.
Can you strike a match on pottery?
Yes, you can use strike-anywhere matches on any textured surface, including pottery. The pottery should have a rough, textured finish for optimal friction. When match strikers do have a smooth, glazed finish, they feature a striker strip on their body or a striker pad on the bottom. However, you can’t strike a regular match on pottery, as these matches need the specially prepared striking surface found on the side of matchboxes or matchbooks.
Is the weight important?
The weight of a match striker is important as it affects the experience of lighting a match. A heavier object stays in place and requires only one hand to use. However, some designs have striker pads on the bottom, which means that they can be lighter. Either way, a match striker should be weighty enough to stay in place even when holding a large number of matches.
What kind of matches are best?
Strike anywhere matches are the best when it comes to match strikers, as they contain highly combustible chemicals in their head. As a result, you can light them up on any rough surface, including a rock. Regular matches ignite only when used on a specially prepared surface, so they don’t work with standard match strikers. Strike anywhere matches are increasingly harder to come by in the US, but we recommend Diamond Strike Anywhere “Greenlight” matches.
Red Cloud Fireplace Match Cloche
A design inspired by snow globes.
Fire and the memory of snow come together in the Red Cloud Fireplace Match Cloche from Skeem Design. While the original cloche took inspiration from vintage cloches used to protect seedlings, this one boasts a frosted, gradient finish that references snow globes and window panes in winter. Made from hand-blown glass, the cloche comes with a natural cork stopper. On one side, there’s a strike-on-bottle flint, which allows the user to easily light a match in one smooth movement. The Skeem Design Red Cloud Fireplace Match Cloche also comes with 120 red-tipped matches.
Anyon Atelier Brass Match Strikers
A solid brass match striker.
For lovers of industrial style, the Anyon Atelier Brass Match Strikers are a perfect choice. Designed with a simple, cylindrical shape, they feature a knurling pattern that runs across the exterior. The interior provides space for matches. Available in two sizes, small and large, these match strikers are made in Los Angeles from brass. Over time, the matches will leave marks, which are easy to clean with a damp cloth. As for the brass itself, it will develop a beautiful patina. The Brass Match Strikers work with strike anywhere striker matches only. This product was also featured in The New York Times.
Areaware Match Striker with Holder
A beautifully textured cast iron match striker.
Designed by Josh Owen for Areaware, the Match Striker with Holder is as practical as it is beautiful. It features a texture that reminds of burned coiled rope. This circular pattern allows the user to ignite matches quickly and reliably. While the top offers room for new matches, the base doubles as a tray for used matches. Crafted from cast iron, the Match Striker with Holder is extremely durable. It’s also easy to maintain looking like new with a soft cloth and a few drops of olive oil that remove the marks left by the matches. Like other match strikers from our list, this one also works with strike anywhere matches only.
Craighill Match Striker
A cast iron design with a weighty feel.
Perfectly balanced, the Craighill Match striker is carefully crafted from solid cast iron to make lighting a match as comfortable as possible. Minimalist and elegantly rounded, this product boasts a deep knurling pattern for optimal friction. The texture and the weight of the match striker allow the user to easily strike a match with one hand in one fluid motion. Matches can go in the interior for storage and for easy reach for when the inspiration to change the room’s mood takes hold, whether it’s with a candle or incense. This design works with strike anywhere matches only and it’s easy to clean with a damp, soft cloth.
Farmhouse Pottery Devo Match Striker
A blend of dainty porcelain and strength.
Made with a specially blended stoneware, the Devo match striker from Farmhouse Pottery might be the most classically elegant product from our list. Like a piece of fine bone china, it doubles as a decorative object. Devo features a rounded shape with a dual chamber design that provides space for new matches and burned ones. The stoneware is not ordinary, as it allows the user to strike matches directly on its surface. Devo is wheel thrown in Vermont and made from American stoneware. This product comes with a pack of strike anywhere striker matches.
Aerin Round Match Striker
A stylish design.
Part of the Aerin collection, this match striker stands out with its subtly textured finish and warm golden color. Made with an ancient, artisanal technique, this solid brass object has an organic pitted surface. The interior compartment is generously sized to hold a large bunch of standard matches, keeping them close at hand. Plus, its elegantly rounded shape and gold color make this product look more like a decorative object. Crafted from solid brass, this round match striker works with strike anywhere striker matches.
Settlewell Concrete Match Striker
A minimalist concrete product.
A great gift for a fan of brutalism, the Concrete Match Striker from Settlewell is beautifully crafted by hand from concrete. These match strikers also have a minimalist design, with a simple cylindrical shape highlighting the textures and gray hues of concrete. This product also adds a bold accent to a table or shelf. To light a match, simply strike matches on the base that provides enough friction to set matches alight. Made in the USA, this concrete match striker comes with 50 strike anywhere matches. Plus, the vessel is easy to re-purpose and use as a container, small vase, or candle holder.
Strike Up Match Holder + Striker
A match striker inspired by railways cars.
Simple yet bold, the Fruitsuper Strike Up match holder and striker is a great addition to any living room, bedroom, or bathroom. It’s made in the USA from solid aluminum, which means that it’s rust-proof and durable. Crafted with a sand-casting method, the match striker has a textured surface. The shape references the striking plates mounted inside railway cars, but we also see the resemblance to a volcano. The surface offers friction to light matches quickly, while the inside is hollow to hold a few matches. This product works with strike anywhere matches only and comes in two versions: Black and Raw Aluminum.
Masterman Ceramics Match Striker
A vibrant design.
The most vibrant product from our list of match strikers, this one from Masterman Ceramics is as pretty as it is practical. Handmade from quality stoneware, it features a striped pattern in yellow, orange, red, and light blue colors. A translucent matte glaze completes the design. The base has a textured surface and it’s there that the user needs to strike matches to light them up. Finally, the interior has room for a pack of matches. Great as a gift for someone who loves contemporary ceramic designs.
Terrazzo Matchstick Holder
A terrazzo concrete matchstick holder.
Individually hand-cast with custom rubber molds, these Matchstick Holders from Pretti.Cool are all one of a kind. To make them, the company uses a blend of concrete and recycled glass to create a terrazzo-like texture with tiny speckles. On the base, a cork layer keeps the match striker in place while the user lights a match. This design suits any room, including bathrooms, and can be easily cleaned with a soft cloth, mild soap and water. You can choose between five colors: Black, White, Coral, Cobalt, and Marigold. This collection works with strike anywhere matches.
Houseplant Pebble Match Strike
A design inspired by beach pebbles.
This decorative design offers a great way to create a focal point in a room. Part of the Houseplant collection, the Pebble Match Strike is beautiful and sculptural. The design references the smooth, rounded shapes of beach or river pebbles. Crafted from sturdy cast iron, the two objects have an incredibly tactile surface. They stack together in an eye-catching composition when not in use. The user can place new matches in the larger match striker, and used matches and ashes in the smaller one. Solid and durable, the two vessels weigh around 5.5 lbs together. On the base, there’s a leather material that keeps the cast iron match strikers in place. Suitable to use with strike-anywhere matches only.
