Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Unusual Artifacts: A Cosmetic Palette, 1830


Cosmetic Palette
French, 1830
The Victoria & Albert Museum




These little pots were made in France around 1830 of hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilt.  Their purpose may not immediately be apparent, however, they were a part of a lady’s toilet set and would have matched a lavish suite of many articles.

These pots were actually designed to be used to mix pigment, wax and suspensions to create cosmetics such as foundation, lip rouge and shadow.

A printed label reads “IMPORTED by GATTIE & PIERCE Perfumers & C 57 New Bond Strt LONDON” indicating that while made in France, the set was  sold by a London dealer.

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