'Cadbury's Gift Box' chocolate tin featuring the Quadriga sculpture

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Cadbury

c. 1912

Overview

'Cadbury's Gift Box' chocolate tin with hinged lid featuring the Quadriga sculpture, which sits atop Wellington Arch in London.
The tin is rectangular with shallow, domed protrusions at each end. There is a raised border of leaves echoing the outline of the tin. The image of the Quadriga has an oval border of dots and dashes.
The underneath of the tin is shiny gold in colour with black text. It has four round metal feet - one in each corner. There is a depiction of the Wellington Arch on the left. There is a border shaped to match the edge of the tin. It has three peace doves on the three upper sides and the Cadbury logo at the centre of a wreath of leaves on the bottom edge.
This example is worn and faded. Originally, the colours would have been quite vibrant - the sculpture and area on which it stands were green and the background was that of a sun and rays in bright yellow. The surrounds were fawn in colour with matching green and tellow decoration.

Historical information

Adrian Jones (1845 - 1938) was an English sculptor and painter who specialised in animals, particularly horses. He was born in Ludlow, Shropshire and initially studied at the Royal Veterinary College; he subsequently joined the army as a veterinary officer, attaining the rank of Captain. It was after leaving the army in 1890 that he embarked on his artistic career. This sculpture of Peace in her Quadriga is probably his best known work.
Accordinbg to 'English Heritage', 'The subject of Adrian Jones’s quadriga (four-horse chariot), which crowns the arch, was described by Jones as ‘Peace descending on the Quadriga of War’. A giant winged female figure bearing a laurel wreath descends on a great chariot, which is drawn by four rearing horses and driven by a young boy who sits on a small seat at the front of the chariot body, apparently unaware of Peace descending behind him.'
It was erected in 1912, two years after the death of King Edward VII, and dedicated to his memory.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00265

Item type

Collectibles

Decorative Objects

Souvenirs

Themes

Recreation
Social History

Material

Metal

Paint

Tin Alloy

Width

180 mm

Height or length

110 mm

Depth

50 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On base:

"CADBURY'S
GIFT BOX"

"The cover of this box bears a representation
of the Quadriga surmounting the Arch on
Constitution Hill, London. The idea sym'
bolized in the Quadriga is "The figure of
Peace descending on the Chariot of War
the charioteer immediately reins in his steeds".
The work was executed by the famous
sculptor, Captain Adrian Jones, M.V.O.,
and the inscription upon the Arch is as
follows :-
The Quadriga surmounting this Arch was presented to the nation as a memorial
of deepest loyalty and respect to His Late Revered Majesty Edward VII. by
Herbert, 1st Baron Michelham of Hellingly, K.C.V.O., M.C.M.XII"

Keywords

Year

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance