Compacts and Vanity Items

I never would have thought to collect old compacts, but apparently this is extremely popular!  While we may take this accessory for granted, they have actually been around for thousands of years!  

There are clubs and organizations devoted to the pursuit of collecting these little treasures, and several books which can be borrowed at the local library gives one quite an insight to this history.  Actually, there is an abundance of information available on the Internet.  

Collectible compacts

I love displaying these!  None of them would fetch high dollar in the collectible world, and their glory days may be in the past, but that's okay with me!  

The three shown above are my favorite because I do know a little history of each one.  The one on the left once belonged to a woman who was an airline stewardess in the 1950's - 1960's, and she traveled between Paris and New York regularly.  How glamorous that sounds!

The one in the middle belonged to an ancestor of Carl's, perhaps an aunt or grandmother.  It is actually a rouge compact.  The little puff for the rouge has survived (along with some of the product), and I just love how pretty that was made. . .

The third was recently acquired through an estate sale. . .and enclosed within was a little handwritten note which reads:

My first compact, 16th Birthday, 1937

Isn't that the sweetest?

Compacts with half dolls

Okay now, I have to talk to you all about these German half-dolls, or pincushion dolls. . .never thought that I would be collecting anything like this, but I love them!  These are a couple that I decided to stick in for this display.

German Half Dolls

While we're here, do you mind if I share a few more "finds"?  Good!

1920's perfume bottle

This sweet little bottle once held some lilac perfume "Lilac Blanche",  a beautiful flower, for sure!  And I'm sure the aroma must have been heavenly. . .but I think this is one that's had it's run and is no longer being produced.



I just love anything that has stood the tests of time and survived, like the label, and the crystal itself!  

This next item is a small, hand painted condiment dish, or salt cellar.  At least, that is what I think it must have been intended for. . .

But I use it to hold my rings.

This last image is a grouping of all.  Underneath is a hand-crocheted coverlet, also bought at an estate sale/auction.  When I got home with it, I could see why it was so lovingly preserved.  Pinned to a corner was a note that read:

Hand crocheted by Aunt Dorothe as a wedding present to us. 1931.

I feel as though I really got lucky with knowing some of the history of these pieces. . .

People seemed to care and give more meaning to their possessions, and having notes attached or inserted into and on these things makes them extra special.  I will never separate those slips of paper from their host items.  

In fact, I am quite taken with the idea of tucking notes into or onto treasures which have significant meaning to me.  Does anyone else do that?

I'm going to share this today with:

Bella Rosa Antiques Let's Talk Vintage

Vintage Charm


Thanks for stopping by!

Cynthia