This pretty lithographed tin box takes the shape of a wicker basket with a movable handle, one of the iconic models created by the Lefèvre-Utile company at the end of the 19th century. Its embossed decoration imitating weaving, the "LU" initials affixed on the sides, and especially the presence inside of the famous winged Renommée blowing a trumpet - a registered trademark of the LU company since the 1890s - link this box to the first advertising productions from the golden age of Nantes biscuit manufacturing. A piece that has become emblematic of the beginnings of modern French marketing and particularly decorative in a collection of old advertising boxes.
✦ Provenance: Lefèvre-Utile (LU), Nantes, France ✦ Estimated period: circa 1897 (1st version with the winged Renommée) ✦ Dimensions: approx. 21.5 x 13 x 11 cm ✦ Material: Lithographed embossed tin imitating wicker ✦ Condition: Good presentation condition. Exterior lithography well preserved with signs of wear, patina, and traces of oxidation. Advertising decor still visible. Handle and lid present. Small deformation on one of the two lids.
A historical model directly associated with LU's first major advertising creations, ideal for enriching a collection dedicated to French biscuit factories of the Belle Époque.
