Commemorative chocolate tin - Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (1937)

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Rowntree & Co. Ltd.

1937

Overview

Rectangular metal chocolate tin produced by Rowntree & Co. to celebrate the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) in 1937.
The lid of the tin features two adjacent oval portrait frames decorated with a continuous, braided border detail. On the left is King George VI and on the right is Queen Elizabeth, both dressed in their full ceremonial coronation regalia including crowns.
The background was gold in colour, but some of this has worn off over time to reveal the base metal below.
Flanking the portraits on each side is the Royal Cypher "GRI" (George Rex Imperator) topped by a crown, all in gold on a blue background. Below this on each side is an outline of the Coat of Arms.
There is a stamped text banner running across the top of the lid which reads 'CORONATION SOUVENIR 1937' and another on the bottom of the lid which reads 'Presented by THE CORPORATION OF WARRINGTON · J.T. COOPER Mayor'.
The base of the tin features the maker's details between two royal crests with the words 'By Appointment' below.

Historical information

The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on Wednesday 12 May 1937. George VI ascended the throne following the sudden abdication of his brother, Edward VIII, on 11 December 1936.
A wide range of souvenirs were sold to commemorate the event. These included ceramics and pottery, medals and coins, textiles and paper goods, and decorative metalware and tins such as this example.

This tin was officially presented by the Corporation of Warrington to local school children or residents as a civic memento to celebrate the royal milestone.
John Turner Cooper (J.T. COOPER) served as the Mayor of the Borough of Warrington for the 1936–1937 civic term.
These local civic tins were typically commissioned by town councils across the UK and produced by major British confectioners of the era, most notably Rowntree & Co. Ltd. of York.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01104

Item type

Collectibles

Decorative Objects

Lithographs

Souvenirs

Themes

Food & Beverage

Social History

Material