Vintage Nursery Rhyme Tin Pail – A.S. Wilkin Ltd, Mother Goose Fairytale Design, c.1930s–40s | Collectible English Lithograph Sweet Tin
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Bring nostalgic charm to your collection with this delightful vintage children’s lithographed tin pail, produced in England by A.S. Wilkin Ltd of Cremona Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, makers of the famous Cremona and Red Boy coffees and confectionery.
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Dating to the 1930s–1940s, this whimsical tin once held children’s sweets or toffees and features vibrant nursery-rhyme illustrations inspired by classic Mother Goose fairytales. Beloved characters dance around the blue-ground tin, including Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, Old King Cole, playful bunnies, musicians, cats, and more – capturing the magical innocence of early-20th-century childhood tales.
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This early litho tin has a lovely patina, with charming time-worn character and a sweet original twisted cord handle, making it both a decorative miniature “toy pail” and a collectors’ treasure. Perfect for displaying in a vintage kitchen, nursery décor, seasonal styling, or a collector’s curio cabinet.
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Features
Maker: A.S. Wilkin Ltd, Cremona Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Date: c.1930s–1940s
Material: Lithographed tinplate
Design: Mother Goose / Nursery rhyme illustrations
Original cord handle intact
Markings: “Made in England” and manufacturer stamp to base
Purpose: Originally a children’s sweet tin / novelty keepsake pail
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Condition
Good antique condition with age-related wear, light surface rubbing and internal oxidation consistent with age and use. Lithography remains charming and vibrant. Handle secure. A wonderfully authentic example.
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Dimensions
Approx. 4oz capacity (printed to rim) – small decorative pail size. 9cm diameter x 4cm height approximately.
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Why We Love It
A delightful survivor of early children’s packaging, where sweets came not in plastic, but in miniature treasures designed to be cherished. This tin embodies a magical era of storybook childhood and British confectionery history.
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Perfect For
Vintage tin & packaging collectors
Nursery décor and display props
Fairytale & Mother Goose collectors
British advertising memorabilia
Cottagecore, whimsical, and nostalgic interior styling
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✨ An enchanting little piece of storybook history, ready to enjoy and display.