{"id":273,"date":"2022-01-19T14:00:15","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T13:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=25515"},"modified":"2022-01-19T14:16:11","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T13:16:11","slug":"collecting-biscuit-tins","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/collecting-biscuit-tins\/","title":{"rendered":"Collecting biscuit tins"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jenny Oldaker\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 19 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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It is perhaps the most infamous tale in biscuit tin history\u2026 a colourful, old-fashioned tea party adorns the lid of a classic biscuit tin. The quaint design, inspired by the work of Victorian illustrator Kate Greenaway, conjures a scene of cosy nostalgia. But a closer look at the image reveals details that are less than wholesome, from lewd goings-on in the bushes to a jar of something questionable on the table. These additional flourishes turned out to be the work of a mischievous freelance designer, but the tins reached the shelves before the offending details were spotted and production was swiftly halted.<\/p>\n

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Michael Saffell\u2019s antiques shop in Bath is a treasure trove of antique tins, including a diverse collection of biscuit tins.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Although not antique \u2013 it was made in 1980 \u2013 this tin is understandably one of the most noteworthy among collectors today, and examples routinely fetch upwards of \u00a3100 (though they can also be found for less). This tin was made by biscuit manufacturer Huntley & Palmers and, although this marks a colourful episode in the company\u2019s history, its part in the story of biscuit tins goes much further than this one risqu\u00e9 collectable. Indeed, Huntley & Palmers has been at the forefront of biscuit tin innovation since the market\u2019s inception, and its designs are among the most coveted today for their beauty and originality.<\/p>\n

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A French handbag-style biscuit tin made for Lef\u00e8vre-Utile c1900\u20131910, for sale at Michael Saffell Antiques for \u00a3225<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The 19th century saw the first mass production of sweet biscuits, and companies such as Crawford\u2019s, Jacobs and Peek Frean began to spring up, offering an ever-wider selection of biscuit choices as demand soared. Huntley & Palmers opened in Reading in 1822 and by the early 1830s was the first company to use metal tins to supply its product \u2013 this had the dual benefit of keeping the produce fresh while advertising the brand. These early tins, designed for grocers, were square, 7lb or 10lb containers with glass-inset tops. <\/span><\/p>\n

It was the Licensed Grocer\u2019s Act of 1861 that enabled biscuits to be sold as individually packaged goods and started the trend for decorative gift tins, while the invention of offset lithography in 1877 made it possible to print onto more complex metal shapes. By the turn of the century, biscuit manufacturers were taking full advantage and creating biscuit tins in increasingly ambitious shapes and designs, from globes and grandfather clocks to planes and cars. The tins became masterpieces in their own right, with design ingenuity peaking around the 1920s and 30s.<\/p>\n

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Huntley & Palmers novelty globe biscuit container, early 20th-century, sold at Christie\u2019s in 2007 for \u00a3384<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Unsurprisingly, it is these novelty-shaped tins that attract the most attention today (who wouldn\u2019t love to own a biscuit tin that doubles as a fully working toy sports car?) but the more traditional shapes and styles also have their own appeal and are more widely available. Biscuit tins are a fertile field for collectors, and options abound for all budgets and tastes. \u2018Biscuit tins offer a certain sense of nostalgia,\u2019 says Lisa Lloyd, antiques expert and owner of antiques shop Hand of Glory in Wiltshire. \u2018They can also be an inexpensive area in which to start collecting \u2013 there is lots of variety in the lower end of the market, with prices starting at just a couple of pounds.\u2019<\/p>\n

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