Tin: Between Art and Functionality

Cultural Writing. In Italian, German and English. More than just a can and yet still bound to the events and needs of daily life, the collectible tin (can, or container) tells us stories about the history and culture of the container, as well as that of the commodities (biscuits, cocoa, tea, cosmetics) it was designed to transmit and sell. The tin must grab at attention and amuse the eye, but still communicate value. It must be desirable both in itself and in what it says about its contents. This collection of tins begins with a British collection that begins in the 1870s, and branches out to other periods and nationalities, extending to the present day.