Syrian Biscuit Tin-space

The Syrian Biscuit Tin was designed by Huntley, Boorne and Stevens in 1903 for Huntley and Palmers who were Biscuit Manufacturers. Located in Reading, Huntley and Palmers came to be the largest biscuit manufacturer in the world. Being so popular, they were able to export their biscuits all over the world. Tins, like that of the Syrian, were produced to protect the biscuits from humidity as well as allowing for prepackaged goods that could last for months. The Syrian was also designed not to look like a normal biscuit tin so that it could be used for other things, like decorative art or even furniture. This particular tin would be found within the factory of Huntley and Palmers awaiting to be shipped elsewhere. Probably located in a storage room with many other tins, either those that are the same or different ones as well. There were 35,000 Syrian Biscuit tins created. After being in a storage room for a while the tin would be bought by someone in the community or even sent around the world. The location chosen for the biscuit tin is a home in Reading in the early 20th century. It would probably have been kept in the kitchen when first used. After all the biscuits were gone the tin would have been used for storage or either other food or other household items. In the kitchen we would find a kitchen table as well as a stove and cooking utensils. Any home in Reading would have a biscuit tin of some kind, so really any home would do.
Another object that can be compared to the biscuit tin is the Victor 2 Humpback Phonograph. This object, like the biscuit tin, would be found within a home. However, in contrast, the phonograph was more likely found in a living room setting in a more upper class home, where as the biscuit tin was most likely in a kitchen and not limited to one class.


sources: Huntley and Palmers website US History website