A rare museum-quality collectible, this imposing 5 kg cylindrical tin from the Antwerp-based company Van Leckwyck & Co was exclusively intended for grocers at the end of the 19th century to promote the famous "Le Pélican Rouge" coffee. Its exceptional lithographed decoration pays tribute to the government of the Transvaal Republic and Paul Krüger during the Boer War, a historical subject particularly sought after by collectors. The main side highlights the brand "Le Pélican Rouge" as well as "Véritable Extrait de Bœuf d'Australie" (Genuine Australian Beef Extract), while the panoramic decoration features numerous political and military figures of the time. Preserved in its original condition, with its authentic patina and traces of time, this spectacular advertising tin is a remarkable testament to Belgian Belle Époque advertising.
✦ Provenance: Antwerp, Belgium ✦ Period: Circa 1899 ✦ Dimensions: Height approx. 38.5 cm (15.16 in) - Diameter approx. 23.5 cm (9.25 in) ✦ Material: Lithographed sheet metal ✦ Condition: In original condition, with original patina, wear, traces of oxidation, scuffs, and visible lithography chips (see photos).
This imposing Belgian advertising tin combines colonial history, Belle Époque graphics, and the world of coffee in a spectacular piece ideal for a lithographed tin collection or a cabinet of curiosities.
