Antique Tin Fairy Tale Candle Lantern – Grimm Scenes, Nursery Decor

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Most of our antique items qualify for duty-free import due to their age (100+ years). In most cases, the price paid at checkout is the total cost to the buyer. However, customs policies can vary, and U.S. Customs may occasionally apply taxes, duties, or brokerage fees upon delivery. Any such fees are the responsibility of the buyer. We always declare items accurately and do our best to minimize surprises.

Please see below for Item Description...

FOR SALE ☞
Antique tin fairy tale candle lantern with four classic European fairy tale scenes, early 1900s nursery / storybook decor.

DESCRIPTION ☞
Charming little early-20th-century tin candle lantern decorated with four different storybook scenes from classic European fairy tales. Each side shows a full-colour lithographed panel framed by an Art Nouveau style border of circles and lines, with rows of tiny punched ventilation holes running up the corners.

The four scenes appear to be:
• A young girl in a red hood walking in the forest with a wolf (Little Red Riding Hood).
• Two children at a cottage window with an older woman looking out (Hansel and Gretel).
• A tall young woman surrounded by seven small figures outside a cottage (a Snow-White-type scene with dwarfs).
• A line of seven children following an older man and woman into the woods (Hop O’ My Thumb).

The top and base are plain tin with a soft rolled rim; the sides are lithographed tin with inset image panels behind clear / frosted “windows.” The top has groups of small cross-shaped cut-outs for ventilation. The inside is simply an open metal well—originally meant for a small candle, but it displays beautifully today with a modern LED tea light (the battery light shown in our photos is not included).

Unmarked, but the lithography, metalwork and fairy-tale subject matter all point to continental European manufacture (likely German or French) in the late 19th to early 20th century. A lovely little piece of nursery lighting / toy history and a great crossover collectible for fairy-tale, illustration, and early tin toy collectors.

Display it on a bookshelf, in a children’s reading nook, or with your magic-lantern and storybook collection. For preservation and safety, we strongly recommend using only a battery tea light if you plan to light it.

DIMENSIONS ☞ (approximately)
• Height: ~4¼ in (about 11 cm)
• Diameter across top rim: ~4⅜ in (about 11.2 cm)
• Diameter across base: ~4¼ in (about 11 cm)
• Each picture window (visible image area): ~1¾ x 1¼ in (about 4.5 x 3.2 cm)

CONDITION ☞
• Structurally sound and displays well; sits flat.
• Overall surface wear to the tin from age and use: scattered oxidation, darkening and spotting to top and base, small scratches and finish loss.
• Fairy-tale panels show expected wear:
– Some rubs, scratches and tiny paint losses to all four images.
– One panel (Hansel & Gretel) has a more noticeable scratch / loss running across the centre.
– Another panel shows darkened / stained area near the top, likely from old heat exposure.
• Interior shows oxidation and candle heat discolouration.
• Window panes have spotting and surface wear but no obvious cracks.
• No maker’s mark found.

Please review all photos carefully for the best idea of condition; sold as found, with all the honest wear you’d expect from a small working lantern that’s well over a century old. Please see photos. Color may differ slightly in real life from how it appears on your screen due to varying monitor settings. Have a question about this item or want to see more photos? Send us a message & we’ll get back to you ASAP!

ABOUT US ☞ Front Street Antiques is located in downtown historic Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada. We are a husband and wife team on the hunt for interesting items that inspire nostalgia and curiosity. As antique enthusiasts, we do our very best to describe any imperfections and quirks, as well as provide a general background on the item; however, we are not yet experts on every item in our store. If you have additional information about an item for us, please send us a message -- we are always grateful to learn more :)

PLEASE NOTE ☞ Item will be carefully packaged up and shipped within 3 business days of sale, often sooner. We combine shipping on multiple items -- please send us a message prior to purchase to give us a heads up & we will be happy to refund the difference upon shipping!

All our listings are considered collectible, retro/vintage (25+ years) or antique (100+ years) and are rarely brand new. The majority of our stock comes from auctions and private collections or estates. Items for sale may display some age related wear and/or minor flaws consistent with the date of manufacture. Photos are included as part of the description. Due to the age and nature of our stock, all items are sold "as is" and final sale unless damaged in transit and covered by insurance.

Items listed on our Etsy store are also available for sale in our physical store location and may sell at any time! Visit us in person to check out our wide variety of stock - 416 Front St. Kaslo, BC

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Return Policy:

• EU/UK Buyers — Under consumer law, most online orders include a 14-day right of withdrawal. Exceptions may apply to antiques, collectibles, and items sold “as is.” Buyer pays return shipping; refunds are issued only after inspection and verification of condition.

• Non-EU Buyers (US, Canada, etc.) — All sales are final unless otherwise stated.