Vintage compacts…don’t you just love them!! Each one distinctly different from the other – the style revealing a little something about the previous owner. Historically the compact had a slightly shady past. They were originally only used by ‘less desirable’ women such as ladies of the night and actresses. As time moved on, the wearing of make-up became more acceptable and compacts finally came out of the shadows to become a mainstream fashion accessory and were finally used in public without disgrace.
I have a tidy little collection of my own vintage compacts and am always on the lookout for more Art Deco lovelies. They really did come in all shapes and sizes and were made from a variety of materials. My favourite is my ‘Volupte’ case which has a puff, lipstick and place for cigarettes/coins, all carried in a little grosgrain purse (similar example below). Here are some fabulous compacts that are available on Etsy.
To see an another cool collection of compacts for sale, check out Sheryl’s Art Deco Emporium.
* All items are linked back to their original Etsy source.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Such a lovely collection of compacts! I’m in awe of the history too, with so many different shapes and styles. Thank you for including my Elgin America mini purse compact!
My pleasure 🙂 There is just so many different types out there that the mind boggles. When you consider that almost every woman owned one from the mid 20s til the 60s…that’s A LOT of compacts 🙂
Oh, so many beautiful ones! I love the brown shell compact and the quater circle! I have never come by one myself, it feels strange to me when you say almost every woman had one… Do you know if they refilled them or if they bought a new one every time they got empty?
Until I find one I continue to ad deccoupage or sequins on my modern compacts 🙂
They definatley were refilled with loose powder which was available in any beauty section of a store and were treasured everyday items. All of my 30s and 40s compacts have a space for the power and most have a hinged lid inside or a ittle netted piece that slipped over the top to keep powder from being spilled. The netting also made the powder finer for application. The modern throw-away society we have today just didn’t exist then. There were refills for lipstick and rouge too 🙂
There’s something really fun about collecting compacts. I currently have nearly 30 and i’m always amazed at how endless the range of designs, styles and manufacturers there are out there. Nice to see a fellow collector on the net!
They are amazing. Always been stunned by the variety. 🙂