A Scarce Vintage Pine J. S. Fry & Sons Sweet Chocolate Display Counter Box
SOLD
Origin: British
Period: Early-Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1900-10
Width: 10.75 inches
Depth: 7 inches
Height: 3 inches
Hailing from the Edwardian period, the antique pine stamped lid with ‘250 Prize Medals’ and the Royal Warrant, and ‘Bristol, London, Sydney’ printed under.
The sides of the box are all in tact, the front panel with printed paper label Fry’s Sweet Chocolate’, indeed, this label is repeated to the interior lid and the condition remains fantastic. The colours to the labels are still bright, especially to the interior and in addition, the interior base is covered in the original pink paper lining. The two flanks read “Fry’s Sweet Chocolate, 2 D OZ 3 OZ Cakes. No.120” (one with some later graffiti over) and the rear panel reads simply “Fry’s Chocolate’. The original hinges are in tact and the box is structurally sound.
In around 1759 Joseph Fry started making chocolate and the rest, as they say, is history. The business soon moved through several names and hands before ending up as J. S. Fry & Sons. Since the mid nineteenth century over 220 products were introduced in the following decades, including production of the first chocolate Easter egg in UK in 1873 and the Fry's Turkish Delight (or Fry's Turkish bar) in 1914.
This nostalgic piece of antique confectionary ware is not just a decorative delight but also an important piece of advertising history, which is now becoming more desirable by the year.