10 January 2009
A while back, I found this special tin at a small antique shop. The tin is quite worn, adding to the vintage beauty of the design.
On the lid of this little treasure is a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The tin is a souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953. It was Made in England by George W. Horner & Co. Ltd. on Chester-Le-Street, County of Durham.
I think it is a wonderful find — isn’t it lovely? I wonder if anything came inside of it? Do any of my English visitors know?
Oh, M, it’s beautiful! I love that you can see that her eyes are blue. What a special tin! :)
Thanks for sharing. If I had to guess what was inside, I’d say either a small hankie or mints.
Have a great day!
I miss you.
Marie :)
I love it! I love it! I love it! I can’t believe she laid it out the morning you came! I have a feeling that we should go to her shop EVERY day!
I love the pics you took of it. I saw one on ebay that is similar that lists it as a toffee tin. There were also bigger ones that were for tea or biscuits.
Hello Emily Rose! I wanted to let you know that I am hosting a giveaway on my blog. I really wanted you to enter. It ends Jan. 15th.
Blessings,
Hannah
Aw – so neat!! I adore finds like that!
You’ve inspired me to think about moving my blog ‘on my own’ . . . any tips?
It’s lovely to come across such lovely, vintage items!
Beautiful…
~Emily
Very beautiful photos.
Very pretty. :) What a treasure to have.
Miss Jocelyn
How neat! – what a lucky find. :D
What a treasure!!
Its really beautiful :)
Marvelous find indeed!
I wish I knew what came in it, but alas, I am American.
I love your blog! And also, you have a beautiful name. I was thinking of naming my daughter Emmeline Rose someday.
Everly
a sally lunne maybe? or some hot cross buns? regardless, that is a really wonderful find. something you will always treasure:)
onedaymore
Oh that is lovely! The photographs are rather yummy to the eyes too. :)
what a neat find!! I love antique shops :-), when my mom and I have “girls day out”, one of our favorite things to do is go to our local antique shops and just look.
4Him,
~Hannah
Hello Emily, I love your blog. This little tin took me back to my childhood. My Grandma kept her buttons in a Horners toffee tin. The Horners Sweet Factory made all kinds of sweets and toffee from 1914 to 1961. (I guess you would call it a candy factory) They were best known for ‘Dainty Dinah’ Peppermint Toffee. The factory was in extistance before 1914 but under different ownership. Chester le Street is not far from Washington where George Washington’s ancestors lived.
Thanks for sharing. God bless you. Julie.
How beautiful!!! I am a beginner photographer. I am always looking for unique things to capture. This is unique!
http://justniftythrifty.blogspot.com/2009/01/lemonade-award.html
I nominated you for an award.
Hello, Emily Rose!
Thank you for commenting on my blog! I’ve been reading yours for about a month. :) Beautiful tin! I love antiques and books, too!
Elizabeth
I have this exact tin handed down to me from my mother. It was always a favorite of hers and is in excellent condition. Fortunately, the label is still on the back. It contained 3 1/2 ozs. of Horner’s Boy Blue Assortments of Toffees. Including fig and licorice flavors. Love your site – just happened to come across it.
Hello, I thought that you might like to know that I have a toffee the same shape and size as this one, but instead of the Queen’s face, it has my mother-in-law’s face on it!
These tins were manufactured to export Dainty Dinah toffees to North America (about 1949 I think). My mother in law actually worked on the switch board in the factory.The owner chose her to be the face on the toffee tin, when none of the professional models he saw were suitable. She hadn’t had her hair or makeup done for the picture and was mortified. She was paid the princely sum of £10.00 for this!
She died recently and her name was Anne Turnbull.I hope you find this story interesting.
Kind Regards,
Sandra Turnbull.
The tin was full of toffees and was made by George W. Horner and Co. Ltd. Sadly Horner’s Toffees went into receivership in 1960 and the factory was demolished in 1980, all that remains is a bust of ‘Dainty Dinah’ in Chester-le-Street’s civic museum. Dinah was the best selling toffee produced by the factory. I have the same tin in slightly better condition, I was given the tin aa a child and I know it had toffees in as I ate them! Sweets had just come off ration then so I kept my train set pieces in the empty tin instaed.
With regards
Nigel
I actually have a bigger size of this for sale that held chocolates from Johnson’s Chocolate in London in 1953. I don’t know if you are interested, but it’s in great condition. My grandmother left me all of her vintage items in her will and I am having to sell most of the stuff since we need the money. I had this formally appraised.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32081429
I have a coronation souvenir round tin. Says made in England and is in really good shape. The inside of the lid says Henry & Thorpe Co. They made toffee and chocolate. I have looked all over the net and can not find this tin. Great shape, both her and her husband. She is looking sideways and you can see her blue eyes plain as day. I cant find this particular can online anywhere. Is it rare? The bottom of the can has red with gold stripes. Interested in selling or finding the value to put up for my children. Can you help me with your search. I can email you pictures. Please and thank you.
i have one of these it is in better shape it has a little spot of ware on the back is a ticker that says b____? blue toffee i believe its boy blue tofee not 100 % sure im curious as to how many of these were made and how hard geroge w horner items are to come by thanks
ken
I have the same tin–came from “Aunt Clara”. Mine is in excellent shape. She kept game pieces in her’s. Mine still has the sticker from the company on the back…Horner’s Boy Blue assortment of toffees, with picture of individually wrapped toffees on the label.
It is a nice little tin to have.
I have one of these sweet tins with the picture of Queen Elizabeth at the time of her coronation. It is in good condition. How much do you think it is worth? It is just sitting in a cupboard and deserves a home where it would be more appreciated!
I have one that is in much better condition and I am curious how much it is worth. Can anyone help me out? Not looking to sell it because it’s too neat I’m just curious.