Before anyone knew what "Cottagecore" would ever mean, Huntley & Palmers had already baked this very style – literally, on tin, with a basket of violets.
This antique biscuit tin from England has a removable lid and a gently curved, oval shape with a scalloped edge at the bottom. It is printed all around with a painted-looking bouquet of violets in a wicker basket – a classic floral motif in the British biscuit tin tradition.
Dating via factory information: The manufacturer's details are embossed on the bottom: "Huntley & Palmers Biscuits – Reading. Huyton (Liverpool) & London. England." The factory in Huyton near Liverpool demonstrably only operated between 1955 and 1983. Since Reading is still mentioned here as the primary location (production there ended in 1976), an origin in the 1950s to 1970s is more likely than in the early 1980s. A small reference number ("152/1727") is also found on the side, likely an internal pattern or mold code.
Dimensions
- Width: approx. 10 cm
- Depth: approx. 7 cm
- Height: approx. 8.5 cm
Condition: The colors are still lovely and clearly visible, with slight speckling in individual areas. On the bottom edge, there is more significant rust and some chipped paint – a genuine flaw, not just patina; please examine the detailed photos carefully. Inside, the original dark tin lining; the lid can be removed cleanly. Not suitable for food – intended solely as a decorative and collectible item.
A pretty container for sewing accessories, stationery, or small treasures – and a find for anyone who loves British biscuit tin history or the name Huntley & Palmers. Price is for 1 piece.
Found in St. Pölten, at the same Sunday indoor flea market as its Austrian neighbor – however, this small tin began its life far from here, in England. On its bottom, it still bears the embossed place names of its origin – Reading, Huyton, London – pressed into metal decades before it ever crossed a border. How it came from there to a flea market stall in Lower Austria, no one knows anymore; only the small rust spot on the edge reveals that the journey – and the years afterward – were not always gentle. Perhaps that is the most beautiful thing about old tins: they retain their birthplace, but never their entire history.
Far from home, still itself — Things with Soul · VintageAustriaShop
