Art Deco Miniaudiere Dance Purse Compact L. S. Mayer Burlington 1930's

Description: This is a very well designed and useful item. The Burlington has a delicate mesh handle which slips over the wrist, and separate openings on each side, with clasps engraved with relevant symbols. A lit cigarette denotes the cigarette compartment, a powder puff for the make-up side. Pinch it together lightly at the top centre, and the clasps lift to drop the relevant side open. On the make-up side there are powder and rouge wells, both with original screens and applicators. The rouge pan is held in place with a spring mechanism and can be removed to refill. There is also a compartment for lipstick or eye pencils. There is a full width flip-down bevelled mirror which gives a good reflection. Behind the mirror is a faux leather-lined compartment which would hold business cards, folding money, combs, pencils or whatever. On the cigarette side there is was a clip to hold full length cigarettes and there is even provision for stamps and a match folder.Dimensions:Base: 3.5" x 2"Sides: 3.75" x 2.75"Triangular sides: base 2" wide, top 0.75" wide, and 2.5" TallHandle / Strap: 6.75" long x 0.25" wide Unpacked weight: 10 ouncesCondition: Good used condition. Most notable defects are 1)( Light-to-Moderate scratching of exterior gold tone finish and 2) Match holder metal retainer is missing (half moon above stamp clasp). Clasp and all hinged parts working as desired, with tight seals. Loose bit on the main interior should be fitted to bottom (see photo #10). Powder and rouge residue as seen in photo #9. No missing silvering or blemishes on mirror. Additional background on this model according to The World of L S Mayer: The most iconic of all the art deco L.S. Mayer minaudières or carryalls, the one shaped like a handbag. It was named the 'Burlington', most probably after the fashionable shopping arcade in London's Mayfair. This pinnacle of German vanity case engineering was reached near the close of the 1930s, with war looming on the horizon. The perfect balance of form and function, this mini marvel saw the transformation of the oblong metal evening purse into the veritable embodiment of a miniature handbag. There were a couple of other unusual LSM cases that were introduced in the same period - the 'Martini', which resembled a miniature cantilevered toolbox; and an unnamed triangular prism with three separate compartments - but none rivalled the Burlington for sheer whimsy and visual 'wow' factor. . The original pencil illustration of the 1937 design is shown in the Gebrüder Schmidt pattern book No.5, and elaborated upon in the diagram accompanying the January 1938 LSM GB patent application. Production began some time in 1937, as early examples are marked only with the number 1858/37, which refers to the LSM 'Park Lane' model. The popularity of the Burlington extended across the Atlantic, and in 1938 a similar case called the 'Chatelaine' was marketed (possibly under license) by American compact manufacturer Volupté. After WW2, the Burlington was still in vogue and LSM continued producing it, renewing the GB Registered Design twice before it expired in 1953

Price: 120 USD

Location: Dallas, Texas

End Time: 2024-02-24T01:08:38.000Z

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