Victorian silver-plated folding biscuit box

Originally known as a biscuit warmer and latterly to keep biscuits frech, this 19th-century silver-plated folding biscuit box features a cast twig and bark-effect frame. Each side of the box is covered with a pierced partition and nicely engraved exterior halves featuring trailing ivy and other foliage.

When open, the bowls drop to a horizontal position while the interior pierced and gilded dividers can be lifted vertically to reveal the gilded bowls where the biscuits are held.

There is no warming device inside but the box would have stood in the hearth and turned frequently so that all sides could be warmed by the fire. Once warmed, the box would be taken to the table and opened to serve the warm biscuits, teacakes or buns. The folding biscuit box is a versatile table decoration that has a multitude of uses and can be used to host a variety of other foods - nuts, berries or sweets. A lady on Antiques Roadshow said she kept her permanently open and used it as a fruit bowl!