Elysian Vase
Biscuit Tin and Lid
1910 (made)
1910 (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.
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 | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Offset litho printed tinplate, embossed. |
| Brief description | Biscuit tin, 'Elysian Vase', offset litho printed tinplate, made for William Crawford & Sons Ltd, England, 1910. |
| Physical description | Biscuit tin, offset litho printed tinplate. A four sided, tapered vase on a simple moulded foot, with curved handles and a detachable circular lid. Each side has an embossed panel of stylised trees, underneath which there is the latin inscription "Acquirit Qui Tueur" (He Obtains, Who Maintains). |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | M.J. Franklin Bequest |
| 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. |
| Other number | 87/1216 - RF number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.63-1987 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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