Vintage French Elesca Pâtes Potage Tin – Poitou – Art Deco Advertising – c.1930s

10 cm round

18 cm tall

Vintage French Elesca Pâtes Potage Tin – Poitou – Art Deco Advertising – c.1930s

A wonderfully decorative vintage French advertising tin produced for **Elesca**, featuring delightful illustrations of two women dressed in traditional regional costume from Poitou, France.

Dating to approximately the 1930s–1940s, this cylindrical lithographed metal tin has a lovely period colour palette of cream, burnt orange, forest green and black. The central illustration features two fashionably stylised figures holding a shield marked *Pâtes Potage*, meaning pasta for soup, together with the coat of arms of Poitou.

A charming landscape runs around the lower section, depicting windmills, buildings, sailing boats and countryside scenes, with the name *Poitou* prominently displayed.

The original removable lid retains its Elesca advertising label, promoting the company's powdered cocoa and milk-based breakfast product.

Maker History

Elesca has an interesting place in French food and advertising history.

The company originated as the **Compagnie Française du Lait Sec**, associated with the production of dried milk and cocoa-based food products from the early 1900s.

In 1906, the business established a chocolate-making operation at Teurthéville-Hague in Normandy. During the 1920s, Elesca became associated with Philippe de Rothschild and was subsequently combined with the celebrated French mustard manufacturer Maille, trading as L.S.K.M. – Elesca et Maille Réunis.

The company became known for its imaginative advertising, including a memorable campaign created by French playwright and artist Sacha Guitry.

This tin is a lovely surviving example of the company's decorative food packaging, reflecting a period when everyday grocery containers were designed to be attractive enough to retain and reuse around the home.

Condition

In authentic vintage condition, with considerable age-related wear, including surface scratches, paint loss, discolouration, marks and areas of oxidation, particularly around the lid and base.

The original lithographed illustrations remain wonderfully recognisable, retaining much of their decorative appeal.

The removable lid is present, and the interior displays signs of previous use and age.

Offered as a decorative collectible rather than for modern food storage.

Why We Love It

There is something particularly appealing about vintage French packaging, especially when the design celebrates regional traditions and everyday life.

We love the fashionable little figures, bold colour combinations and charming windmill scenery. Despite its well-earned wear, this tin retains bags of character and would look wonderful displayed in a country kitchen, vintage pantry or collection of French advertising memorabilia.

A lovely little piece of French social and commercial history.

This vintage item is described to the best of our knowledge. Please study the photographs carefully, as they form part of the description and show the condition and age-related wear.