Lift the wicker lid on this antique automobilia "En Route" motor car picnic and tea basket and all is beautifully and neatly revealed: a complete travelling picnic set in white enamel and steel, with brass detailing; each and every carefully designed piece pleasingly housed and stowed in its steel and wicker lined compartments, ready for its travels. The front pulls down to reveal a handy work-station, a fitted vulcanised cardboard tray in racing-car green, where all things for a picnic can be assembled. 

The birth of the motor car saw the advent of the travelling roadside tea and picnic set, yet only the very wealthy owned a motor car back in 1910. These picnic sets are rare to find, let alone in such good condition, and are now highly sort after, especially by vintage car enthusiasts; for to have one of these in the trunk in readiness for that roadside stop, completes the true vintage day out.

The set comprises of the following, and each piece is shown in the attached images: 

Pot stand with burner housing

Brass burner with adjustable wick

Copper kettle of cuboid form with brass screw lid; spout cap with retaining chain; hinged handle; and brass plaque with raised lettering: "Sirram / Caution before lighting lamp remove both screws". The kettle fits inside the stand when stowed in the set's basket.

2 loose tea infusers/carriers (one inside kettle, not shown)

2 white enamel cups and saucers with blue rims

2 enamel tea plates with blue rims

1 biscuit tin with hinged lid and fastener

1 water carrier tin with brass screw cap and retaining chain

1 "cream"/milk churn with pouring lip and brass screw cap with retaining chain

1 "tea" and "sugar" tin, comprising of two compartments with hinged lids

Dimensions 

Basket: Height 22.5cm Length 30.5cm Depth 21.5cm

Kettle: Height 7cm  Length 11cm Width 11cm

Year and place of manufacture 

c.1910 UK

Condition

All-in-all this set is in wonderful condition, considering its 110 years of age, and shows signs of being very well cared for and treasured. It’s rare to find one of these sets, let alone with its original contents, and with its leather carrying straps and handle still intact. There are some minor chips to the enamel and some rust spots to the steel, as often happens in sets of this age; plus there a few minor splits to the cane of the basket, and a small hole in the vulcanised cardboard lining under the lid - see fifth image.