A handy little tin and of beautiful proportion retailed by the grand department store Gamages of London, and with its original black laquered paint finish. Inside the hinged lid is affixed an oval gold plaque embossed with “Trunk & Bag Department - A W Gamage Ltd, Holborn, London EC1”. It has a simple carrying handle and lock with original key.

Country of origin: UK

Date of manufacture: c.1900

Material: tin

Dimensions: Length 36cm Depth 16cm  Height 15.5cm

Condition: excellent for its age and use, with some very slight scuff marks to the black finish.

History

Gamages was a large Victorian department store, founded by Arthur Walter Gamage in 1878.  It soon became a London institution, occupying much of the street at Holborn Circus, London.  It had many floors and departments, including one given over to hardware on the ground floor, which included specialist car motor parts. There were photographic, camping, pet, toy, and sporting departments, the latter selling shotguns. The toy department was particularly thrilling and extensive and there were floors given over to fashion, furniture and carpeting, and there was of course a trunk and bag department from where our document tin was once sold. See images. Sadly, it was sold-off in the early 1970s and was raised to the ground, and now the site is occupied by contemporary office blocks. Yet one can still own a little piece of the magnificent emporium that was Gamages - with this wonderful tin.