Tin, Advertising Tin, Tubbs Lewis & Co, The Lady's Own Toilet Pin Box, Best Pins Perfect Points, England, Antique 1890s–1910s

Best Pins. Perfect Points. English coat of arms. And still full of them.

"Toilet" here comes from the French toile — cloth — with nothing to do with bathrooms. This is a lady's dressing table pin tin, the kind kept by the mirror alongside hairpins and hat fasteners. Made by Tubbs, Lewis & Co. of London (founded 1854), a prominent textile and haberdashery firm, this beautifully decorated flat tin features an English coat of arms and the confident declaration: Best Pins, Perfect Points. The interior reads in part: Manufactured by Tubbs, Lewis & Co. Limited, London England. It still contains the original perfect-point fabric pins, approximately 25mm (1 inch) long, used for millinery, dressmaking, and garment fastening. No rust, no discoloration, very minor scratches only.

A rare find in this condition — a genuine piece of Victorian/Edwardian vanity culture. A remarkable gift for the antique tin collector, the textile history enthusiast, or anyone who loves the small objects that defined a well-appointed dressing table.

• Maker: Tubbs, Lewis & Co. Limited, London, England
• Contents: Original fabric pins (still inside)
• Material: Metal tin
• Dimensions: 3.25" long · 2.25" wide · 0.5" tall
• Origin: England
• Era: Antique, 1890s–1910s (estimated)
• Condition: Antique, used — very good; very minor scratches; no rust or discoloration; please review all photos