Antique Biscuit Barrel, made of white porcelain and decorated with exquisite period wild Rose design, the pink rose accented with other wildflowers and ferns. This elegant barrel, or Biscuit Jar, has a more rare to find "egg" shape with a domed lid. Both lid and jar have an embossed pattern around the rim, the floral designs are transfer designs which were carefully hand painted by an artist. This piece dates to the mid to late 1800's.
Charming relics of a more gracious era, the first biscuit barrels appeared in England c.1860 and quickly became en vogue, they were proudly brought out to serve biscuits at tea time, luncheon, or whenever the occasion warranted.
Meant to beautify a lady's table, they were not meant for storage {your maid would transfer the biscuits back into the tin once tea was over.} In good condition, there is an underedge chip on the barrel, which doesn't show, this is a lovely and decorative piece to add to your collection. Unmarked, as many of these 19th century barrels were, this makes a luxurious hostess gift filled with cookies {biscuits}, too. Measures: 5~1/8" in diameter x 6~1/4" h.
