{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O323141"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O323141/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MG6131/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MG6131/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MG6131","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LY3735","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O323141","accessionNumber":"M.906-1983","objectType":"Counter String Dispenser","titles":[{"title":"M. J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera)","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"The British biscuit tin came about when the Licensed Grocer's Act of 1861 allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. Coinciding with the removal of the duty on paper for printed labels. It was only a short step to the idea of printing directly on to tinplate. The new process of offset lithography, patented in 1877 allowed multicoloured designs to be printed on to exotically shaped tins.\r\n\r\nThe most exotic designs were produced in the early years of the 20th century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests.\r\n\r\nThe advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived.","physicalDescription":"Counter string dispenser, offset litho printed, in the shape of a square biscuit tin, the cutting edge, a razor blade within a rectangular upright mount in the centre of the lid, the side decorated with lettering and a child sitting in a high chair eating a `Pat-a-Cake' biscuit.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Peek Frean & Co.","id":"A3045"},"association":{"text":"made for","id":"x30791"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"tinplate","id":"x32089"}],"techniques":[{"text":"offset lithography","id":"AAT192900"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Tinplate, offset litho printed","categories":[{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2019MG6131","2019LY3735"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES337132"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Counter String Dispenser","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1928","earliest":"1923-01-01","latest":"1932-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by M. J. Franklin","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"excluding cutter","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"PEEK FREAN & C<sup>O'S </sup>/ PAT-A-CAKE / BISCUITS / PEEK FREAN & CO. LTD. LONDON ENGLAND","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On the side panel."}],"objectHistory":"M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Counter string dispenser, offset litho printed tinplate, England, made for Peek, Frean & Co., ca. 1928.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Michael Franklin, <font -u>British Biscuit Tins</font>, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984, ISBN. 0905209621"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.906-1983"],"accessionNumberNum":"906","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1983,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}