Powder Compacts

This temporary lobby exhibit of powder compacts and rouge cases is on loan to us from Dolores Leak. Her collection started in about 1950 when she bought her first compact while working at Frederick Pharmacy in Colby. She started actively adding to her collection about 20 years ago. She and her husband, Duane, have done some traveling. They always look for compacts at garage sales, flea markets and antique stores while they are gone. Her collection now numbers about 500 different designs. She enjoys researching their history and looking up current values.

Thank You, Dolores for sharing this great collecting with us.

 (Click images to enlarge)

The beginning! The first compact Dolores bought.

Compacts date from the early 1900s when make-up had not gained widespread acceptance and the first powder cases were concealed within accessories. In 1908, Sears’s catalog advertised a silver-plated case with mirror and powder puff (price 19 cents) and described it as small enough to fit in a pocketbook. Some U.S. manufactures produced metal compacts with finger chains which were designed to be displayed rather than fitted into a handbag. Compacts were heavily influenced by prevailing fashion trends over the years.  Compacts continued to be in widespread production until the 1960s. Their popularity diminished as the industry created plastic containers designed to be discarded when empty.

Visit Prairie Museum of Art and History during the month of April to see this excellent collection. As always, there is no admission fee to visit the lobby exhibit or browse the gift shop.