A little box of Christmases past, complete with a few crumbs of Christmas cake!

An old Fortnum & Mason cardboard box, filled with a wonderfully mismatched collection of vintage Christmas cake decorations and festive odds and ends.

Inside are little Father Christmas figures, a snowman, woodland animals, golden holly leaves and berries, cheerful red Christmas greetings and other tiny decorations that have clearly seen many festive celebrations.

The box itself is rather lovely, with the old Fortnum & Mason royal crest and the address 182 Piccadilly, London W. printed on the lid. Its beautifully timeworn appearance is every bit as appealing as the treasures tucked inside.

I've decided to leave everything just as I found it. Some decorations still have traces of dried Christmas cake attached, which rather tells their story better than I could. A little evidence of Christmases enjoyed and remembered.

There are signs of age and use throughout, with discolouration, marks, worn finishes and some damage. This is very much an old, well-loved collection rather than a pristine set.

Perfect for someone who enjoys collecting vintage Christmas ephemera, old cake decorations and the little things that have survived from family celebrations.

Details

• Old Fortnum & Mason cardboard box

• Printed royal crest and 182 Piccadilly, London W. address

• Box measures approximately 14 × 9 × 5 cm

• Assorted vintage Christmas cake decorations, as photographed

• A mixture of plastic, fabric and metallic decorations

• Sold together, contents are not original to the Fortnum & Mason box

Condition: Everything is offered in its found condition, with considerable age-related wear. The box is stained, rubbed and discoloured, and the decorations show dirt, wear and possible losses. Some retain dried cake residue. Please study the photographs carefully.

An appealing little collection for display and collecting, rather than food use.