The British biscuit tin came about when the Licensed Grocer's Act of 1861 allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. Coinciding with the removal of the duty on paper for printed labels. It was only a short step to the idea of printing directly on to tinplate. The new process of offset lithography, patented in 1877 allowed multicoloured designs to be printed on to exotically shaped tins.
The most exotic designs were produced in the early years of the 20th century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests.
The advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived.
Physical description
Rectangular biscuit tin with hinged lid. Cream with image on lid of a town house with trees and figures in black, flanked by flowering plants in pink, blue and black. Sides of tin are decorated with fence motif in black and flowering plants in pink, blue and black. Lid has 'No. 10 Downing Street, in the eighties' below image.
Place of Origin
Edinburgh, Scotland (possibly, made)
Date
1924 (made)
Artist/maker
McVitie & Price (retailer)
Materials and Techniques
Offset litho printed
Marks and inscriptions
'No. 10 Downing Street, / in the eighties'
Dimensions
Height: 7 cm, Width: 21.1 cm, Depth: 14.7 cm
Object history note
The tin bears an idealized illustration of the British Prime Minister's official London residence, 10 Downing Street on the lid. It is a manufacturer's sample for it was never put into full scale commercial production.
Historical context note
The British biscuit tin came about when the Licensed Grocer's Act of 1861 allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. Coinciding with the removal of the duty on paper for printed labels. It was only a short step to the idea of printing directly on to tinplate. This development is first credited to Owen Jones who was a consultant designer to the stationary printers, Thomas de la Rue. He designed the first biscuit tin, transfer-printed and issued in 1868 for the firm of Huntley & Palmers. Other firms were quick to respond and a whole new industry was born. The new process of offset lithography, patented in 1877 allowed multicoloured designs to be printed on to exotically shaped tins.
The most exotic designs were produced in the early years of this century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests.
The advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived.
[Eric Turner, 'British Design at Home', p.126]
Descriptive line
'No. 10 Downing Street', made for McVitie & Price; 1924
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Michael Franklin, British Biscuit Tins, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984, ISBN. 0905209621
Materials
Tinplate
Techniques
Offset lithography; Plating
Subjects depicted
London; Houses
Categories
Containers; Metalwork; Portraits; Children & Childhood; Eating; Food vessels & Tableware
Collection code
MET
