The Matchbox Maker

The Matchbox Maker – The Robin

Name: The Matchbox Maker – The Robin
Brand: The Matchbox Maker
Price: 9.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

A little bird full of warmth and charm.

The Robin is a luxury matchbox designed to bring a tiny spark of joy to mantels, tables and gift boxes alike.

£9.00

🚚 Free UK-wide delivery over £50
🇬🇧 Founded in the UK

This matchbox is a lovely example of considered British design — beautifully made, understated, and crafted to elevate even the simplest rituals. The robin illustration is by Matthew Rice, one of the UK’s most admired watercolourists, and pairing his work with the robin — the nation’s own bird — gives the piece a warmth and familiarity that feels instantly welcoming.

The letterpress-printed box has a reassuring weight to it, and the long matches inside make everyday moments — lighting a candle or setting a fire — feel that bit more intentional. It’s practical, characterful and proudly British in a way that feels genuine rather than nostalgic.

It’s also the kind of gift you’re just as happy to give as you are to keep for yourself — distinctive, thoughtful and genuinely useful, the sort of piece that ends up living on a mantel or coffee table.

In our Celebration Box, it adds a touch of artistry and warmth that deepens the sense of occasion and brings a personal, curated feel to the whole collection.

The Matchbox Maker was founded by long-time friends Michelle Harle and Katie Crosbie Dawson, who launched the company in 2025 after both finding themselves at turning points in life.

The idea started in an unlikely place — a catch-up at the races. Both juggling young families, both ready for a new chapter, and both craving something creative they could build with pride. Their youngest children had finally started school, creating a small but precious window of time, and with it, the space for inspiration to strike.

With Katie’s experience in the gift industry and Michelle’s background in bespoke luxury, they combined their skills and set out to create something special — thoughtful matchboxes designed to be kept, gifted and cherished. What began as a tiny spark quickly became The Matchbox Maker: a brand built around beauty, sentiment and small objects that make a big impact.

Their ambition is simple: to create a growing range of luxury matchboxes that bring joy, comfort and meaning. Each design is a celebration of storytelling, nostalgia and craftsmanship — tiny treasures for life’s little moments.

The Robin is one of The Matchbox Maker’s most charming designs – a beautifully illustrated matchbox featuring a bright, characterful robin, perched against a soft, wintry backdrop. It’s the kind of piece that instantly feels at home on a mantelpiece, beside a favourite candle or tucked into a thoughtfully wrapped gift.

Each box is part décor, part practical object: generously filled with long matches that are as useful as they are beautiful. Strike a light for candles, wood burners or fires, then keep the box on display as a tiny piece of art.

Created by founders Michelle and Katie, The Robin captures exactly what The Matchbox Maker does best – turning an everyday object into a small, joyful keepsake. Perfect as a stocking filler, table favour, hostess gift or “just because” token for someone who loves robins, winter, or the simple magic of a matchbox done properly.

What makes it Local

Every product at The Local is chosen for its story, not just its quality.

We champion independent makers, family producers and small studios from across Britain — people who bring their regions to life through craft, sustainability and community.

When you shop here, you support real makers and the places they love.

This isn’t just gifting — it’s how local thrives.

Meet the Makers →