MATCHBOX MUSEUM – Sremski Karlovci

The Matchbox Museum in Sremski Karlovci displays a collection originally assembled by Jasna Novak (Zagreb, June 1, 1925 – Belgrade, May 10, 2002) and expanded over the last 15 years by Jovana Popović Benišek.

Since 2013, part of the collection has been permanently exhibited in the first private matchbox museum in Serbia. The museum is housed within the adapted family home of Jovana Popović Benišek.

Today, the collection contains over 25,000 items from various countries and continents. On display are matchboxes of different shapes, sizes, designs, and materials—including cylindrical boxes, golden Italian packages decorated with reproductions of world-renowned artworks, Japanese masterpieces crafted on parchment and silk, and French matchboxes featuring playful or risqué motifs.

The exhibition is carefully curated to provide context about the history of matches, the collectors, and the collection itself. Beyond showcasing the artistry and design evolution over the past 170 years, the collection also serves as a social chronicle reflecting broader societal changes. This philumenistic collection includes a large number of matchbox labels, some still coming directly from factory sheets, preserving their original tab arrangements