Before America had the cookie jar, Great Britain had their biscuit boxes. While our cookie jars tended to be whimsical, the biscuit boxes or barrels have always been decidedly more handsome and classic in design.

At your service, a storied Vintage Biscuit Barrel found at market in the north of England. Produced by the long-shuttered James Deakin & Sons silversmiths of Sheffield, the barrel was a thoughtful gift that represents the sophisticated luxury of a bygone era. With decorative pierced detailing trimming the top border, a lift off lid and a swing handle, the barrel has a practical glass liner that allows it to be easily called into service as an ice bucket.  

With a gleaming provenance that is sure to captivate, the front of the piece is hand-engraved with a dedication reading:

Presented to G.E. Clarkson

by the members of the

Aberford* Cricket Club 

Feb. 23rd 1925

Perfect to safe-keep your biscuits (or cookies or tea or after dinner sweets!), as well as be a magnificent centerpiece on your home bar, this lovely piece is sure to bring its gleaming, storied elegance wherever it is displayed. 

(*Aberford is a village on the outskirts of the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire County.)

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In very good restored vintage condition. 9" high x 5.75" in diameter.

Learn More About Cricket

Although the exact origin of cricket seems to be lost in the mists of time, there is a consensus of opinion that the sport was likely invented during medieval times by children living in the "Weald", an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England. The first reference to cricket being played as an adult sport was in 1611, and in the same year, a dictionary defined cricket as a boys' game.

Village cricket had developed by the middle of the 17th century and the first English “county teams” were formed in the second half of the century, as “local experts” from village cricket were employed as the earliest professionals. The first known game in which the teams use county names is in 1709. 

In the first half of the 18th century, cricket established itself as a leading sport in London and the south-eastern counties of England. Its spread was limited by the constraints of travel, but it was slowly gaining a following in other parts of England with its popularity growing rapidly once railroads connected the nation. Women’s cricket dates back to 1745, when the first known match was played in Surrey.

The game of cricket is now played worldwide with the real power in the game having shifted from England to nations such as South Africa, Australia, India, Pakistan, and the West Indies.

In England, the major focus of the game are the county championships, with both four-day and one-day competitions running simultaneously during the summer months. But traditional village cricket is still played in towns and villages all across the UK.

Learn More About Biscuit Barrels  

Demand for commercially produced biscuits soared in the 19th century, as did the demand for tea and coffee. Along with the large scale manufacturing of biscuits and the popularity of taking afternoon tea with sweets, biscuit boxes and barrels became necessary for storing biscuits and bringing them to the table while taking tea. As biscuits were fragile by nature, these tins, boxes or barrels also provided protection and helped keep biscuits fresher for longer.

The popularity of afternoon tea during the Victorian era increased the demand for highly decorative biscuit boxes, which would take pride of place alongside elegant tea and coffee services. As afternoon tea was often a social event, these serving pieces were an opportunity to display the family's social standing and wealth.