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Questions, questions……….15

Melissa Musical Compact

I really need you help. I need to know when this was made and why? It is a musical powder compact made by KIGU. It has Melissa on it.

I am doing some research about it and I need the information as soon as possible. Please can you get back to me.

Thank you so much in advance.

Charlene Charles

Heidi Melhuish replies: This compact is marked Melissa and so is not a Kigu. It was probably made in the 1950s.

Back copies of Face Facts, the BCCS newsletter

I would like to obtain ALL of the back issues of your newsletter, Face Facts.

Can you tell me how I can do so?

Kathy

Juliette Edwards replies: You can get them easily by joining the Society and asking Amalia Ramsey for them.

Stratton compact with white cats

I have a Stratton convertable compact and I am looking for information about it. It is a royal blue compact with two white cats on it. I have the box with it and the pouch it came in . The patent number is 764195. I have been told it is from the mid 1950s but that is the only info I can find. The pattern on the back is like cookie cutter stars going in a circle, with the circle getting smaller and smaller . I think the cats are a mom and kitty, they are very fluffy and have big orange eyes. Can anyone provide any more info?

Cathy Battye

Jenny Duncan replies:
Surprisingly, not many compacts feature cats in their designs and Cathy’s Stratton Convertible (80 mm dia.) is one of the few. The patent number frequently found on this style of compact can be difficult to read, but is usually GB patent 764125. This was granted in 1956 to Jarrett, Rainsford and Laughton, the company who at that time owned the Stratton name and refers to a special frame to support a pan of solid powder. Sometimes private copies of Stratton catalogues are available to BCCS members at our Regional meetings, but at the time of writing I do not have reference to these to offer a specific date for this compact with the white cats. However, translucent blue was a particularly popular Stratton finish from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, although I believe that the earlier 80mm Convertibles are more likely to have a grooved spiral pattern on the base rather than stars.

Beatles compact & lipstick set

I have in my possession a powder compact and lipstick set (please see the attached photograph) which is in very good condition.

The compact does not have an inner lid but there is a mirror, powder puff and fine netting pad. As far as I can see Kigu is not marked on the compact anywhere.

The lipstick case has a pink insert still inside, the words REG. TRADE MARK, KIGU OF LONDON and MADE IN ENGLAND is marked

on the bottom of the lipstick.

I would be grateful if you could provide any background information. I am aware that having the lipstick case with the compact is very rare.

Miss J Middleton

Stratton Wedgwood compacts

Please could you tell me do you know if Stratton ever made Wedgwood jasperware compacts in black or pink?

Sue

Juliette Edwards replies: Yes, they did make compacts with other colour ceramic plaques, dark blue, green, pink and grey-black. I don't have dates to hand, but certainly saw a Queen's Silver Jubilee (1977) Stratton-Wedgwood in dark blue. I hope this helps!

Stratnoid queries

I have an old compact which belonged to my mother that is marked Stratnoid, design 767198, made in England. The compact is square, gold coloured tin / aluminum. The face of the compact has a colour 'picture' of a river with a cottage on the river bank and a castle or cathedral in the distance. I am curious about the history of the compact, its age roughly and whether this was part of a river range or perhaps a group of locations.

Any info you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Sheila Packer

Heidi Melhuish replies: The number you give is a Registered Design number and is for the year 1931, but could have appeared on compacts for some years after that.

Royal West African Frontier Forces compact

I enclose an attachment of an silver enameled compact, with some damage, hallmarked Birmingham 1933 and with makers initials of JWB....any idea of who this could be...perhaps J W Benson who I believe were primarily watchmakers. The insignia is the Royal West African Frontier Forces which existed only a mere 32 years from 1928 to 1960. Because it is not a very feminine compact how desirable or collectable would it be?

Wendy Whitworth

Eleanor Bennett replies:-

It is almost guaranteed to be by J W Benson and is quite collectable.

Throughout its history, J.W. Benson Ltd was official watchmaker to the Admiralty & the War Department and also held a number of royal warrants, being watchmakers to Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales, the Tsar of Russia and several other royal families.

The company's premises were: Cornhill (1847-64), Ludgate Hill (1854-1937), Old Bond Street (1872-3), Royal Exchange (1892-1937) and their original workshop was at 4-5 Horseshoe Court (at the rear of their Ludgate Hill premises). In 1892 it became a limited company and moved to their new 'steam' factory at 38 Belle Sauvage Yard.

During W.W.I. the factory was bombed, destroying thousands of timepieces and from this point on the company no longer manufactured its own watches, but still continued as a retailer. The timepieces bearing the company name used high quality Swiss movements supplied by manufacturers such as, Vertex (Revue), Cyma/Tavannes, Longines and the by the English maker, S. Smith & Sons.

J. W. Benson Ltd continued until 1973 at which time the name was sold to the Royal jewellers, Garrards.

Stratton 'Couples in Costume' compact

I was given the compact shown on the enclosed attachment by my husband's grandmother. Unfortunately, she has now passed away and I have no idea how old it is etc. It is in very good condition with all the inside intact. Any info you could give me would be appreciated.

Lorraine Rothwell

Heidi Melhuish replies: Two compacts from this series were featured in the latest edition of Face Facts, the BCCS newsletter. They were not the same shape as this one, being round without any shaping, but were dated to 1953 or later. This shape, according to size, is known as the Queen or Princess, the Queen being the larger of the two.

Have you heard of Marlene?

I have been on your questions & answers site, which was very useful, but wish to ask if you can give me any information on a guilloche enamel powder compact which is marked Marlene, Made in England? As I can find no record of this maker anywhere any information or advice would be a great help.

Tina Golds

Jenny Duncan replies:

May I add my voice to Tina's in requesting any information about this brand. I enclose a picture of a "Marlene" compact for loose powder in my collection, which has an art deco style sunburst design in bronze foil under celluloid, imitating guilloche enamel. It has a satin finished gold-tone interior with "Marlene" in script and "Made in England" on the inner lid. The pink puff also has "Marlene" stamped in gold. The ribbed, gold-tone base is bordered by a pattern that matches the frame on the lid.

It is 75mm sq. and a heavy, nicely made compact, but at the present time I can find no information about this brand. Any information would be welcome or other examples of compacts with this name.

Have you heard of Gourielli?

I have come across a compact that I have been unable to find any information about. It is marked GOURIELLI on the inside lid and also on the powder puff. I do know that the American cosmetic giant Helena Rubinstein married Prince Gourielli in 1938 and developed a line of men's cosmetics with his name as the brand and am wondering if there's a connection. It is a very heavy piece in excellent condition. I would appreciate any information you might be able to give and have attached several photos of the compact. The stones appear blue in the photos, but they are actually clear. Thank you for any information you may have on this interesting piece.

Rose Manor

Jenny Duncan replies:

The only reference I have found about this brand confirms Rose's connection between Helena Rubinstein and Gourielli. Laura M. Mueller's book, "Compacts, Carryalls and Face Powder Boxes" Vol. 2, p.40 shows a compact described as "Gourielli", "case signed", with a gold-tone metal lid moulded with an impression of a fabric bow.

She comments that in 1938 Rubinstein "opened the New York House of Gourielli" following her marriage to Prince Gourielli. Perhaps BCCS members who also collect scent bottles and perfume related items may have more information?