Summary
This metal cake tin was sold in the 1930s by an unknown Australian manufacture to take advantage of the popularity of the champion race horse Phar Lap.
Physical Description
Circular metal tin with a removable lid. Central motif of lid shows a standing race horse with his head slightly tucked into his neck. His jockey wears the colours of Harry Telford, consisting of a red cap, red body and black and white hooped sleeves. Under the horse words appear in cursive gold lettering. The background is green, whilst the circumference edging is a decorative swirling gold colour.
Significance
This artefact communicates very effectively how entrepreneurs anticipated that Phar Lap's intense popularity, serviced by print, film and radio, made him a bankable sports personality. Mass produced articles were the perfect commercial complement to the widely accessible media hero. The use of Phar Lap on a cake tin suggests new levels of commercial exploitation associated with fame.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Inscriptions
Printed on top of lid: Phar Lap
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
225 mm (Width), 225 mm (Depth), 80 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Advertising, Civic Mementoes, Horse Racing, Horses, Racing Industry, Souvenirs, Making History - Phar Lap