Vintage 1936 Macfarlane Lang Dutch Jar Biscuit Tin Barringer Litho Windmill
£40.00
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Vintage 1936 Macfarlane Lang Dutch Jar Biscuit Tin Barringer Litho Windmill
£40.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Lithographed Advertising Biscuit Tin / Decorative Keepsake Canister
- Designer: Barringer, Wallis & Manners (Mansfield, UK)
- Brand: Macfarlane, Lang & Co. (Glasgow & London)
- Design / Name: "Dutch Jar" Series (First Issued 1936)
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Place of Origin: Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
- Style: Art Deco Era / Traditional Dutch Countryside Folk Art Lithography
- Colour: Warm Golden Ochre, Rich Amber-Brown Varnishes, Crimson Red, Indigo Blue, and Moss Green Highlights
- Design Era: Late Interwar Art Deco Era (Dated precisely to 1936)
- Material: Offset-Printed Tinplate / Lithographed Sheet Iron
- Set Includes: One (1) Two-Piece Cylindrical Vintage Tin Assembly (Deep Jar Body and Matching Friction-Fit Slip Lid)
- Features: Complete 360-Degree Folk Art Narrative Panorama, Embossed Geometric Starburst Lid Motif, Hand-Stitched Textile Illustration Styling, Aged Golden Interior Patina.
- Condition: Good Vintage Condition with Beautiful Interwar Character and Honest Patina.
- Size and Capacity: Measures approximately 7 inches in total height by 4.25 inches in base diameter (approx. 18 cm x 11 cm).
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This rare survival can be dated precisely to 1936. Historical packaging records confirm that this specific cylindrical shape, catalogued as the "Dutch Jar" container, was manufactured using the patented offset multi-colour lithography process at the renowned Barringer, Wallis & Manners tin foundries in Mansfield. It was issued as a premium luxury holiday packaging release for Macfarlane, Lang & Co.’s elite biscuit range.
- Historical Note: Barringer, Wallis & Manners were absolute pioneers of the British advertising golden age, globally celebrated for turning commercial tin containers into highly decorative domestic ornaments. During the Interwar period, biscuit manufacturers competed fiercely to produce tins that consumers would permanently display on their storefronts and mantelpieces long after the biscuits were consumed. The 1936 "Dutch Jar" line is highly coveted by social history curators for its detailed storytelling. Rather than simple paint blocks, the lithograph lines mimic the organic texture of hand-woven tapestry wool. By weaving iconic Dutch symbols—such as heavy wind-pumps, wooden clogs, water yokes, and timber well wheels—into a soft, amber-varnished sunset palette, this tin stands as a magnificent example of 1930s commercial artistry.
Description
A masterclass in interwar industrial design, this rare 1936 Macfarlane, Lang & Co. "Dutch Jar" biscuit tin is an incredible acquisition for vintage advertising collectors and country-house interior stagers alike. Formed with a classic apothecary-jar silhouette, the entire circumference of the tinplate body is wrapped in a highly narrative, continuous lithograph panel depicting traditional life in rural Holland. The illustration styles are wonderfully nostalgic, balancing three vivid scenes of children playing, carrying water, and conversing by tidal canals. The vessel is topped by a deep-set friction lid decorated with a geometric starburst medallion, all coated in a rich, aged golden-amber varnish that provides an unmistakable historic warmth.
Expert Identification & Design Features:
- Verified 1936 Interwar Heritage: An authentic, documented container from the golden era of British tinplate lithography, highly prized by museum completists.
- Continuous 360-Degree Panorama: Features an elaborate multi-scene narrative layout highlighting traditional windmills, timber wells, and costumed figures.
- Art Deco Lid Medallion: The slip-on top lid houses a deeply embossed geometric rosette pattern, accented with elegant gold-gilt filigree borders.
- Tapestry-Texture Lithography: Utilizes specialized interwar print cross-hatching that beautifully captures the visual weight and texture of hand-stitched folk-art canvases.
Condition Report
This ninety-year-old vintage tin is in good condition, presenting an exceptional balance of structural soundness and authentic historic character. The tinplate body is remarkably rigid and solid, retaining its uniform cylindrical shape with no heavy structural crushing, deep perimeter terminal splits, or holes along the bottom rolled seam. The exterior lithography is beautifully preserved and highly legible throughout; it displays light superficial storage scuffs, tiny scattered pin-prick paint flecks, and honest edge oxidation wear mostly isolated along the lid margin and base ring, all of which enhance its rich vintage character. The top friction lid fits snugly and sits perfectly flat. The interior and flat base plates display a beautiful, completely natural aged dark grey and golden-pewter tinplate patina without modern chemical spray overlays. Please view the complete macro gallery photographs to appreciate the continuous narrative artwork.
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: This historic tinplate surface will be packaged with immense care. It will be wrapped completely in acid-free tissue paper to protect the delicate lithograph face from friction, before being double-boxed within heavy-duty bubble cushioning and loose void-fill peanuts to prevent crushing.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.