Huntley & Palmers: [Edwardian Globe Biscuit Tin]
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Cartographer:
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Huntley & Palmers
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Title:
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[Edwardian Globe Biscuit Tin]
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Date:
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c. 1906
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Published:
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London
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Width:
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7 inches / 18 cm
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Height:
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8 inches / 21 cm
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Map ref:
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GLOBE394
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Description:
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Unusual Edwardian novelty globe biscuit tin produced by one of Britain’s most successful biscuit producers, Huntley & Palmer.
Founded in 1822, Huntley & Palmer became one of the biggest producers of cakes and biscuits in the world. One of the reasons for their success was that they were able to pack and ship their goods internationally (at their peak they were delivering to 137 countries!), they arrived in decorative and highly collectable keepsake tins like this globe biscuit tin. This was not just a fantastic method to ship and preserve the biscuits, but a marvellous form of advertising.
Huntley & Palmer are said to have even sent biscuit tins to the South Pole for Captain Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition (1910-13) - a discovery of their fruitcake was found in at the 1911-12 Winter Quarters in Cape Adare, Antarctica. At the outbreak of the First World War, their biscuits were included in soldier’s rations but the novelty biscuit tins ceased to be produced as tin was required for the war effort.
The geography on the terrestrial globe highlights the extent of the British Empire in red. When the lid of the tin is lifted, an inscription "Huntley & Palmers Biscuits, Reading & London" can be read. The globe sits upon four brass ball feet and tilts on an axis similar to that of a globe mounted on a pedestal. An example of this globe biscuit tin resides in the V&A Museum's Ironwork Collection.
Litho-printed tin. Rust marks at joins, lid and some small dents. [GLOBE394] |