Tins - Commercial Art Treasures

Several distinctive blue and gold caviar tins

My grandfather came to live with us after becoming a widower. I think the year was 1965. He arrived as a ready made throwback to the pre war era - baggy trousers, combinations, detachable collars, waistcoat complete with pocket watch and chain and a trilby hat. And his pipe!

I digress.

I cannot recall his preferred tobacco but it came in tins. He would then transfer it to a pouch where he would knead it until it broke down prior to the ritual of filling the pipe. The pipe held between thumb and forefinger in the pouch whilst the index finger slowly filled the bowl. Then the struck match and the bluish plume of smoke.

This is all a roundabout way of saying that I grew up with a love of printed tins. It is easy to overlook these gems of packaging. Many carry very distinctive colours and logos and those dating back some 50 - 60 years seem to have a stronger presence than much of the packaging used today.

The famous Brasso tin with strong colours and graphic identity

There is a good reason for this stronger presence.

Tins often convey a premium quality, durability and a degree of exclusivity whereas cardboard and plastic are seen as disposable, mass market commodities. These characteristics create a stronger emotional bond with the brand.

The surface of the tin, being glossy and reflective is the perfect medium for vivid colours, metallic sheens or tactile surface finishing thereby creating greater visibility and consumer impact.

Whilst cardboard absorbs ink which mutes colours, tin’s surface is perfect for vivid colours, sharper contrast and finer detail. This in turn improves legibility of print and graphics. Plastic surfaces can be glossy but the optical clarity will depend on the plastic polymer and seldom can match the quality of tin.

Tin has a secondary value in that it can be repurposed for many uses around the house. Whether used for display or storage brand visibility is extended indefinitely.

Vintage printed Cardinal Polish tin , showing vivid colours and classic British branding

Tin packaging is a link to earlier times before the era of television and mass advertising. It was therefore essential that brands had a distinctive visual impact as they had to share space with the competition. Tins have a physical permanence which becomes an emotional permanence. They evoke vivid memories of growing up as we remember them for both their primary and secondary usages. And even though they were mass produced each one can feel special as they are reused for those myriad mundane uses in our lives.

Collections of vintage tins

In a world of disposables, the printed tin reminds us that beauty and function, once united, can endure far beyond their purpose.

A biscuit tin beside a well loved tobacco tin now used for safety pins!