Vintage French Maggi “Bouillon Gras” Tin – Croix-Étoile – Paris
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A striking vintage French kitchenalia tin advertising Bouillon Gras MAGGI, finished in the brand’s iconic bold red and yellow colourway. With its strong graphic typography and instantly recognisable branding, this piece is a wonderful example of mid-20th century European food advertising and packaging design.
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The tin originally contained Maggi bouillon sticks, a concentrated soup stock designed to dissolve quickly in hot water. The reverse of the tin still shows the printed French preparation instructions, explaining how to make an instant broth using one baton of bouillon in half a litre of boiling water. These practical directions give the piece a lovely connection to everyday culinary life of the period.
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The lid advertises “34 étuis”, suggesting the tin once held multiple packets of bouillon sticks for retail or pantry storage. Today it survives as a wonderfully decorative collectible, perfect for display in a vintage kitchen, café interior, or food advertising collection.
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Maker History
 
The Maggi brand was founded in Switzerland in 1884 by Julius Maggi, a pioneer in industrial food production. His goal was to create nutritious, quick-to-prepare foods for working families during the rapid industrialisation of Europe.
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Maggi became internationally famous for its bouillon cubes, seasoning sauces, and instant soups, revolutionising home cooking by making flavourful stock accessible without long preparation times.
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By the early 20th century the brand had expanded across Europe, including France, where products were produced and distributed through companies such as Société Industrielle de Spécialités Alimentaires in Paris, whose name appears on this tin. The distinctive red and yellow branding introduced during the early advertising campaigns remains one of the most recognisable food product identities in the world today.
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Condition
 
Good vintage condition with age-related wear, including small areas of paint loss, surface marks and patina consistent with age and use. These signs of age only add to the tin’s authentic character.
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Approximate Size
 
• Height: approx. 14 cm
• Width: approx. 12 cm
• Depth: approx. 12 cm
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Why We Love It
 
Bright, bold, and instantly recognisable, this tin is a classic piece of European kitchen advertising history. Its graphic design, French language text, and connection to one of the most influential food brands of the modern era make it a wonderful decorative and collectible piece.