M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera) thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera)

Badge
1932 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleM.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera) (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Brass, stamped
Brief description
Brown owl badge, (biscuit manufacturer's advertising ephemera), brass, Birmingham, made by J.R. Gaunt & Sons for William Crawford & Sons, 1932.
Physical description
Brown owl badge, stamped brass in the shape of an owl standing on an open book and holding a banner with raised lettering, in its original box.
Dimensions
  • Length: 3.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
CRAWFORD'S / BISCUITS / ARE GOOD BISCUITS (Raised lettering within a banner.)
Credit line
Given by M. J. Franklin
Object history
M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins.
Summary
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.
Bibliographic reference
Michael Franklin, British Biscuit Tins, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984, ISBN. 0905209621
Collection
Accession number
M.883-1983

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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