Antique Huntley & Palmers “Glove Box” Biscuit Tin – 1913 Horse & Carriage Design

Antique Huntley & Palmers “Glove Box” Biscuit Tin – 1913 – Horse & Carriage Design

A wonderfully characterful antique Huntley & Palmers biscuit tin dating to circa 1913, produced in the form of a long glove box and decorated with an atmospheric hunting and coaching scene.

The hinged lid depicts a horse-drawn carriage travelling through woodland, accompanied by mounted riders and huntsmen. The design is lightly embossed, giving the horses, carriage and surrounding landscape additional depth. The underside retains the original Huntley & Palmers Ltd, Biscuit Manufacturers, Reading & London branding.

Known as the “Glove Box”, this design appeared amongst Huntley & Palmers’ decorative tins in 1913. Such tins were deliberately created to have a useful second life once their original biscuits had been eaten, and this long narrow form was intended to be reused for storing gloves and other personal items.

Huntley & Palmers was one of Britain’s most famous biscuit manufacturers, established in Reading during the 19th century. The company became particularly celebrated for its elaborate decorative biscuit tins, many of which were produced by the associated Reading firm Huntley, Boorne & Stevens. Today these tins are collected both as examples of early advertising and packaging and as fascinating pieces of British social history.

This particular example has certainly lived a life. There is extensive rubbing, paint loss, scratching, oxidation and general surface wear throughout, with considerable loss to the original dark finish, particularly around the edges and sides. The pictorial decoration nevertheless remains clearly recognisable, with good surviving detail to the horses, carriage and riders. The interior also shows considerable age-related wear and discolouration. The hinged lid and front fastening arrangement remain present.

We have deliberately left the tin in its wonderfully timeworn condition rather than attempting to restore it. Its wear is very much part of its appeal and gives it an authentic, almost untouched appearance after more than a century.

A lovely piece for a collector of Huntley & Palmers tins, antique advertising, equestrian memorabilia, hunting-related pieces or early 20th-century kitchenalia, and equally appealing simply as a decorative storage box with bags of character.

Date: Circa 1913

Maker/Brand: Huntley & Palmers Ltd, Reading & London

Material: Lithographed and embossed metal

Dimensions: Approx. 28 cm long x 9.5 cm wide x 5.5 cm high

Condition: Antique condition with substantial age-related wear, surface loss, scratching, rubbing, oxidation and discolouration throughout. Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

As with all our antique and vintage pieces, this item shows signs of its previous life. These marks, imperfections and areas of wear are part of its history and individual character.