Thursday 21 June 2012

Stratton Butterfly Vintage Compact


butterflies

I will be the first in admitting I'm not a big collector of Stratton compacts [I'm picky, I know]. To me their popularity and the ability to be able to find them easy is a little off putting. In turn I love my small brands. But I love butterflies - they have to be one of my favourite things to photograph, I love butterfly houses in zoos and Joe is always amazed at how well I can name any we come across on a walk. So much that I'm currently reading a book all about the life of a butterfly - knowing they only live a couple of months makes you remember just how fragile their beauty is. The book - Wings in the Meadow documents the tale of one butterfly through words and brilliant illustrations [last image]. So being the big butterfly fan that I am, how could I turn this compact down especially when I come to think about it how I'm adding to my collection of powder compacts featuring butterflies in their designs [now up to three!] alongside this Marhill and another Stratton double mirrored compact.

The pale blue background of the compacts top really sets the butterfly colours off, although it's probably rather abstract the butterfly is rather reminiscent of the Monarch butterfly. The compact itself is unused - it's even compete with it's original "inspected by" little slip of paper and instructions. It is suffering a lot with regards to it's mirror - you can just see in the image that the mirrors gone a bit green and blotchy but I can see pass that too. 

I always wonder how English compacts made their way over to the USA.

18 comments:

  1. That is actually the most prettiest compact I've seen in a while - I love butterflies.



    www.charlotelizabeth.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Isn't it?! I love butterflies and dragonflies, there's something really mystical and magical about them!

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  2. Wow, that's stunning. I love it, you know you can get the mirrors repaired? X

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    1. Yeah there are people out there that specialize in fixing the mirrors in vintage compacts and some people even do it themselves with just buying a similar cheap on and literally just swapping. The problem with this one would be that the mirror is one which is encased into the actual metal of the compact so I'm not really sure how you'd take the mirror out at all without having someone proper to do it. To be honest i'm not really bothered by the mirror, if the rest of the compact is in a great condition I buy it regardless. I'm one of those collectors who doesn't necessarily want to have all the ones in a perfect condition!

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  3. I think this is my favourite compact of yours <3

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    1. Aw thank you - it's certainly up with a few of my favourites.

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  4. Very pretty, it would have been so easy to put the butterfly in the middle, but it looks perfect where it is.

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    1. I think that's what really makes it pop too!

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  5. It's so pretty! Definitely something to be treasured :)

    Love, Elizabeth xx

    http://butterflyboo.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. It's having pride of place on the bookcase!

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  6. This is so pretty !
    The detail on that butterfly is amazing :)

    www.launainponderland.blogspot.com

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    1. Isn't it just?! And it's still in a great condition!

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  7. It's a beauty. I agree with Miss Rayne, the off centre butterfly makes it into a work of art. x

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    1. That blue in the background really makes it pop too i think.

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  8. Very pretty compact indeed! The perfect one to make an exception for. xx

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  9. Oh sweet that is so beautiful. I have had so many Stratton compacts over the years, but this is just gorgeous.
    I am a Butterfly girl too. (Vanessa means Butterfly) I think the one on the compact might be a "painted lady", I will check a book tomorrow.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Love v

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    1. Thanks V! I kept meaning to change it, i've also seen that it could be a painted/American lady. I love that you're name means butterfly too!

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  10. This has to be my favourite compact ever- I told I'm such a lover of both butterflies and Stratton compacts, so to me this is just perfect! Amazing photographs, the details are so lovely xxx

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