Edwardian Emporium: tins

Antique Picnic Hamper

This is a genuine vintage picnic basket with most of its contents. I do not know its date, but it looks old, perhaps 1910-1945.
The hamper is a neat wicker basket. Inside, the case is subdivided into left and right, and upper and lower compartments. There are wickerwork mountings for the plates to slide behind and to hang the cups on.
The set comprises a kettle, a spirit burner, two cups, two plates, one round metal tin, two rectangular tins, a metal top which probably once belong to a bottle, and an oblong metal match case.
The kettle has a wicker handle, a cork-backed lid which unscrews, and a top for the spout which screws off and has a chain attached. Inside the kettle, fits a cyclindrical mesh infuser. The spirit burner appears to have all its parts, including a wick. It looks as if it could be brought into action again, although I have not attempted this. Two of the tins have white enamelled interiors, while the remaining, rectangular tins is divided into two compartments. Both the cups are white enamelled tin with wicker handles. The saucers and the rectangular plates are also white enamelled tin.
This picnic set has been in the wars a bit. There are woodwormm holes, especially in the lid, which I have treated with woodworm treatment. The set does show signs of age, and the metal backing for the front hamper flap is scratched and abraded, while the tins and the spirit burner are a bit rusty. The cups, plates, and kettle, however, are in relatively good condition. This is a characterful set, which looks as if it could be brought into use again. It might be nice to take to a vintage car rally, for example. All the contents pack away neatly into the basket which measures approx 35cm x 21 cm x 29 cm.

£35.00 +