Wiltshire 'Burgundy' Stainless Collection Pamphlet & Packaging

It is a rare day indeed when you come across a vintage item that is still brand new in its original box, with the plastic wrap  intact. 
The true beauty of this kind of find is that any advertising material included in the box can be incredibly valuable to collectors or researchers. It helps piece together what other items were part of the same collection. I like to call this little miracle the 'Archaeology of Retail' — because I’m an archaeologist, and it genuinely feels like an excavation every time I uncover something with hidden treasures. I believe it's important to document as much as possible when these items surface, so we can start building a usable catalogue of historical advertising of everyday goods from the past.

Let’s start with the item that landed on my desk today: a set of  Wiltshire 'Burgundy' salt and pepper shakers, brand new in box — or BNIB, as collectors say.

 
This pair of stainless steel shakers comes in a sturdy cardboard box (10 cm x 10 cm x 3.9 cm, decorated in Wiltshire’s signature 'W' logo in grey and pink on a white background. The only label is a plain white sticker marked 'SALT & PEPPER SET (SMALL)'. Inside, the shakers are separated by a cardboard divider and individually wrapped in plastic sleeves, each sealed with a staple. Interestingly, the set also includes a spare plastic stopper — something I hadn’t seen before. I can’t help but wonder how many people ever managed to keep track of those tiny stoppers for future use.

 

 

Resting neatly on top of the shakers is an advertising pamphlet for the Wiltshire 'Burgundy' Stainless Collection. On the reverse side is a full list of product codes and names for every item available in the collection, including a section featuring the matching gift-boxed accessories. The collection was described as follows:

'Elegant Stainless Tableware just right for all gift-giving occassions. Created by Wiltshire craftsmen, the Burgundy collection is as elegant as it is practical. Every item, beautifully sculptured and enhanced by a delicate deep-etched floral pattern. Burgundy Stainless Tableware... ideal as a gift for those we love.'