In England and her Commonwealth Countries, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. This was the traditional holiday for servants—when they would receive their "boxes" from their employers and could celebrate the day off with their families and friends. After all, servants were expected to serve their employers on Christmas Day. It wasn't a holiday for them; if fact, Christmas entertaining probably made the day extra difficult. Boxing Day will be here four months from today.
In honor of Boxing Day, we'd like to share this attractive—though well-worn—candy tin from the Twenties. It was made to hold a pound of Whitman's pre-packaged chocolates. This Art Nouveau tin—part of Whitman's "Salmagundi" line—was made between 1924 and 1930. The central portrait is clearly inspired by Alfons Mucha's Czech goddesses—with their beautiful profiles and flowing tendrils of long hair. The rest of the box is a (printed) micro-mosaic pattern—somewhat architectural, with sophisticated, earthy colors. The tiling reminds me of what one might see in the best Turn-of-the-Century subway stations. The roots of the name "Salmagundi" has multiple (conflicting) origins. Some say it is a type of cold meat and vegetable platter—a spread (a small Smörgåsbord) that could be served easily at a gathering. Others say it is a stew—made of whatever leftovers happen to be at-hand. There is also a Salmagundi Club, founded in New York City in 1871, as a center of art: classes, lectures, auctions and social gatherings of artists and collectors. At its earliest gatherings, the club would serve members a stew they called Salmagundi.
Whitman's Chocolates was founded in Philadelphia in 1842 by an enterprising 19-year-old, Stephen F. Whitman. Initially, he sold fruit and chocolates in a retail shop near the port. Sailors and seamen would buy hand-packed gift boxes of chocolates for wives and girlfriends. They might even bring-in exotic fruits, nuts or cocoa from overseas voyages, asking Whitman to make-up candies in the popular "European Style." Whitman's reputation grew quickly throughout the Northeastern United States. In 1854, Whitman began producing his first pre-packaged offering—decorated sugarplums. This expanded his market and strengthened the brand over an even-wider area. By 1866, Whitman's occupied an entire large building in Philadelphia's Center City. In 1877, Whitman's began buying decorated metal tins—with ever-changing design styles or seasonal themes—and offered pre-packed "Instantaneous Chocolate" assortments. In 1912, the company introduced the classic "Whitman Sampler" (which is still produced and marketed today) and pioneered the use of cellophane to wrap the boxes, the first candy maker to do so. Whitman's continued its pioneering ways after World War II by helping General Electric develop a refrigerated case in which the boxes of chocolates could be stored—thus making them sellable throughout the Summer. This also helped Whitman's achieve sustained national reach.
Click on one of the photos above to learn more about this handsome, historic candy tin.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248