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Antique
Punched Tin
boast original and that term is still used Candle
antique tin by some today when Lantern selling
ceilings, wall speaking of lanterns on
panels and made with horn. rubylane.com
wainscoting The art of tin punch- $435
over 150 years ing was used during the
Pressed tin ceiling
after they were Colonial era not only for
first installed.” a bit of decoration but as
Tin ceiling tiles were made of tin plate a way to let the light out
along with other metal sheeting made of while not having to use
copper, aluminum, and stainless steel. The expensive glass. Designs
metal was able to be stamped with very intri- often vary by region.
cate designs that could be used separately or A popular form of
mixed-and-matched to create a specific This collection shows a wide variety of McCormick tins decoration for a tin
design. Tin ceiling tiles were light and able to both antique and vintage used to store everything lantern was punching
be shipped easily across America to new, from mixed pickle spice to tumeric and mace. designs into the tin,
growing communities. flavor over an extended period. Compared to itself. According to
Today, ceiling tiles are being collected for many other types of packaging, tin boxes were Grant Hamilton in his article titled
their design able to extend the shelf-life of these “Collecting Punched Tin Lanterns,” “…
qualities and valuable products. despite the sometimes-glorified name, the
useability as By the early 1920s, McCormick’s iconic punched tin lantern was an everyday utility
wall decor, “Mc” spice tins for spices of all tastes could be
framing, found in pantries across America but by 1985,
transformed these iconic tin canisters had been replaced by
into planters plastic for all McCormick spices except for
and pots, etc. pepper and Old Bay seasoning, a brand it
Ceiling tiles purchased in 1990. These remaining products
are also succumbed to more “environmentally-
being friendly” packaging in 2017 to reduce carbon
restored and Pressed tin ceiling panel emissions by 16 percent.
re-used on showing a strong 3-D effect
ceilings needing that “extra touch. Just go to
Pinterest and do a search and you will see
many great ideas for display.
Collectors are looking for unique designs,
good age, and stability. Painted ceiling tiles, if
original, can add to value.

Vintage McCormick Tins Vintage McCormick Spice Tins Lot of 3 Cloves Thyme
McCormick Founder Willoughby Ginger Blue Containers $24.99 at ebay
McCormick (1864–
1932) started his Tin Lanterns Shine Bright
namesake company in These three painted tin lanterns 19th c sold
the basement of a Used throughout 18th century America, at Pook & Pook for $130
Baltimore home in tin lanterns were the flashlights of the day,
1889 when he was and came in many item that was both practical and artistic. In the
just 25 and went sizes, shapes, and literature of the day and recollections printed
door-to-door selling materials as a in the early 1900s, the punched tin lantern was
its earliest products replacement for typically known as a stable lantern.”
lanterns
earlier
Early McCormick and Co. which included root made of brass or When determining the date of a tin
tin Bee Brand Teas selling for beer, flavoring copper. Lanterns lantern, be aware that, as with most crafts,
$100 on etsy extracts, fruit syrups, made of tin were production changes made to these lights did
and juices. Seven not happen uniformly. A country tinsmith
years later, in 1906, McCormick purchased both inexpensive may have continued using hand tools long
the F.G. Emmett Spice Company and entered and lightweight to after machines were purchased and used at
the spice industry. carry. The hinged other shops. Therefore, seeing handwork on a
The company 1930 mccormick bee brand door made it easy lantern may not be a sure indicator of age.
first introduced black pepper selling at to put in and take As is often the case with antiques,
spices housed in Mercari for $28 out the candle Hamilton said, “The best bet for the collector
lithographed tin While most of is to examine as many pieces as possible from
canisters in 1911. these early lanterns reliable collections and dealers in order to get
These metal tins for the most part a ‘feel’ for the lanterns.”
provided the used glass for their
ideal storage for windows—which
sensitive foods could prove costly
such as spices, —mica and thinly
which follow scraped horn were
specific manufac- also used. Early on 19th century tin and mica
turing guidelines when horns were panel candle lantern selling at
to maintain their often used as “win- etsy.com for $295.
consistency and dows,” they were The mica would help the
spelled “lanthorne” candlelight shine brighter A portion of Historic Deerfield lantern collection

26 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles