As anyone knows I have a secret love for the city of Chicago - I get the same great feeling I had about moving to and living in Newcastle [and it's the city I hint most about moving to]. Chicago was also where we had our honeymoon, so a compact that was designed to commemorate the 1933 World Fair that the city hosted was always going to be a winner.
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| The World Fair 1933-34 |
The first World Fair was held in Crystal Palace and hosted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This fair, also known as the Century of Progress was held between 1933 to 1934 to celebrate Chicago's centenary with technological innovation as it's main theme, held around where the main museum campus of Chicago is today.
The compact itself is a double compact - holding what remains of the rogue in the top compartment and pressed powder in the bottom, with a double hinged mirror separating the two. It is in fact a very small compact being 2.1" x 1.7" wide - a scale representative of it's era. The famous Century of Progress logo appears upon it's blue enameled top. Overall it's in a brilliant condition for being so old - with only slight marking on the bottom - the hinges and the clasps work perfectly and comes complete with both puffs. While these commemorative compacts aren't rare [there's always a few in varying
conditions on Ebay for various prices ranging from $30-100] they still command a strong selling price even though they are actually unmarked as to whom manufactured them. Nevertheless I love being able to own something from one of my favorite places especially now that the compact has entered it's 79th year.
On a related note the blog might get a bit compact heavy shortly, in addition to the two other Christmas compacts from the husband i'm currently bidding my way through Ebay. I jokingly laughed that the boy could buy the transformers lot he had his eye on if I could spend the same amount on compacts - deal done! So with $60 on my side i'm trying to get my hands on a wide range of compacts. Compacts and transformers [as in the toy not train transformers] are the only things I ever bid for on ebay - what do you lovelies end up buying there?
On a related note the blog might get a bit compact heavy shortly, in addition to the two other Christmas compacts from the husband i'm currently bidding my way through Ebay. I jokingly laughed that the boy could buy the transformers lot he had his eye on if I could spend the same amount on compacts - deal done! So with $60 on my side i'm trying to get my hands on a wide range of compacts. Compacts and transformers [as in the toy not train transformers] are the only things I ever bid for on ebay - what do you lovelies end up buying there?
Cool compact. By sheer coincidence I saw another Chicago compact yesterday. Here it is!! http://www.etsy.com/listing/88918435/art-deco-compact-chicago-worlds-fair?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=chicago+compact&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=CA&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage
ReplyDeleteWOW! That one is gorgeous! Good spotting!
ReplyDeleteCute history :) And the little cigarette box is super cute. I've never been to Chicago but I would love to visit one day... hopefully...
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful and what history! x
ReplyDeleteElla @ Belle Vintage
do you collect compacts? That is an awesome hobby! I hope you find some good ones with your new budget! they look like they have great stories to tell :)
ReplyDelete-Monica
Yeah been collecting them for over two years now Monica, have about 25ish.
ReplyDeleteWow, 25ish compacts?! That's amazing! This one in particular is quite beautiful. I think it's much nicer and more durable to have the metal/ tin compacts rather than all the plastic ones they make now. I'm glad you're finding such great treasures through ebay. Wish I could say the same, I mostly get generic "Made in China" items because they are so cheap. ;P
ReplyDeleteHaha I don't blame you Jen - the amount of money your saving is worth it!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great deal you've made. I can't wait to see what you get, your collection always amazes and delights me with it's quality. x
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous find! x
ReplyDeleteoh wow... that's a really lovely compact, Rachael! Is the cloth the puff that comes with it?
ReplyDelete♥ laura
the blog of worldly delights
Yeah there's two puffs one for the powder and another for the rouge - because it's an unused compact I would guess they are both the originals too.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you show your inspirations!
ReplyDeletehttp://paquetevistasbien.blogspot.com
wow its so well preserved for its age, and so beautiful to look at
ReplyDelete