Lucretia Vanderbilt Triple Vanity Compact Art Deco Butterfly Rouge Powder Lipstk

Description

Hard to find
triple vanity compact
is in good shape for an item of its age
Remarkably still contains product - rouge, powder and lipstick! Of course, not for use.
No sheepskin case is included.
The enameled metal exterior of the compact has chips of the paint, scuffs and scratches consistent with an eighty year old item.
The compact hinge and clasp are operational.
The rouge applicator is present.
The tiny metal enameled lipstick has some spots or rust.
A powder applicator is not present.
The metal mirror shows one’s reflection and its hinge/clasp operate.
There are spots that may be rust, or rouge which has migrated between the rouge section and the lipstick section, or both.
Please view the pictures for details of the condition; they’re an important part of the description. This compact is, well, compact. It measures only 2.5 inches on the long side.
This item was handled as little as possible to avoid damage. The compact was packaged promptly following the photo session, and is ready for shipping to you, dear collector.
Except as expressly set forth in the item description, Seller makes no express or implied warranties of any kind whatsoever about this merchandise. Seller is not responsible for consequential, incidental or punitive damages of any kind whatsoever. Seller’s liability is limited to the amount paid by Buyer including shipping/handling charges.
Design: It’s quite clever (see Danco’s patent drawing from 1928). He included a pull tab on the tiny rouge puff, which makes it easier to remove, and the lipstick compartment contains a small spring which lifts the left side of the lipstick up so that it may be grasped - essential, as they are quite small. You may observe both in the photos.
History: Lucretia Vanderbilt was a luxury line of cosmetics and perfume. It featured blue containers with the signature art deco butterfly and flower design by
Leon A. Danco, who filed the patent for the Lucretia Vanderbilt triple vanity compact design on November 9, 1928.
Now 88 years old, the hard to find triple vanity compact is sought after by collectors. No wonder, as it is an elegant reminder of the art deco period and the roaring twenties. Also in November 1928:
The MGM lion roared for the first time at the beginning of the film
White Shadows in the South Seas
. It had no dialogue (except “hello”) but had a prerecorded soundtrack with sound effects
Herbert Hoover was elected president and took a goodwill trip to Latin America; it was the 2nd presidential election in which women could vote
Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish lost a home game - its first in 23 years
Walt Disney premiered a short animated film called
Steamboat Willie
in New York City
Ravel’s
Bolero
was first performed publicly at the Paris Opera
Wall Street had a record trading day of 6.6 million shares; days later closed down for a day to process a backlog of 6.9 million shares
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, CT made the beautiful blue compacts designed by Danco, and the release to the public was likely shortly after the patent was filed. The Lucretia Vanderbilt line was seen advertised in 1929 newspapers, with descriptions boasting:
Lucretia Vanderbilt: The Aristocrats of Toiletries in containers of refreshing newness
a face powder...soft as mist, made from a formula once compounded exclusively for French and English royalty
soft textured rouge...of satiny smoothness
a non-tarnishable...unbreakable mirror of metal
two fluffy, downy wool puffs
a dainty lipstick...chic and witching...beneficial to delicate lips
a sheepskin case
According to one advert, this compact sold for .00 in 1929, with refills of each item being {{detail_product_description}}.50. The Great Depression took its toll. Lucretia Vanderbilt was sold to Grenoville and in 1933 sales of the remaining stocks were seen advertised at steep discounts:
Triple Compact, face powder, rouge and lipstick, originally .00...now 59 cents.
Credits:
Mike Hetherington, a researcher and blogger from Sydney, Australia has written a fabulous article about the scandal, heroism and mysticism in the history of the Lucretia Vanderbilt cosmetics line. His blog, Collecting Vintage Compacts, is required reading for collectors and is a source for the patent drawing of the triple vanity compact and some of the historical information provided
Cleopatra’s Boudoir blog post about Lucretia Vanderbilt Perfumes & Powders provided historical information
Wikipedia’s article on November 1928
Photos by Kerylann Finds