Vintage Italian Gold Plated Powder Compact
Elegant and beautifully preserved, this vintage Italian powder compact combines exceptional craftsmanship with timeless mid-century style. Crafted in gold-plated brass and decorated with vivid blue marbled enamel, ornate scrollwork, and a hand-painted Rococo-inspired courting scene, it is both a functional vanity accessory and a miniature work of art.
The shaped lid showcases a romantic pastoral scene framed by flowing gold-plated brass ornament and richly coloured enamel panels. Every side of the compact is intricately engraved with floral and foliate motifs, while the reverse displays an equally detailed decorative pattern, making it as beautiful closed as it is open.
Inside, the beveled mirror remains perfectly clear and intact, and the original fabric-covered powder insert with its pull tab is exceptionally clean. The hinge operates smoothly, and the compact closes securely with a satisfying snap.
Marked Made Italy inside, alongside an unidentified workshop mark, the gold-plated finish tested positive with 10K gold testing acid, supporting the presence of a genuine gold finish over the brass base metal.
Whether displayed on a vanity, added to a collection of vintage compacts, or repurposed to hold jewelery or treasured keepsakes, this elegant piece is a wonderful example of Italian decorative artistry from the mid-twentieth century.
Details:
Era: Circa 1950s–1960s
Materials: Gold-plated brass (10K acid tested), hand-painted enamel, beveled mirror, fabric-covered powder insert
Condition: Excellent vintage condition. The mirror is perfectly intact and crystal clear, the original powder insert is exceptionally clean, and the compact opens and closes perfectly. Minor oxidation is present along several metal seams with light wear consistent with age.
Dimensions: 3 × 3 in
Elegant and beautifully preserved, this vintage Italian powder compact combines exceptional craftsmanship with timeless mid-century style. Crafted in gold-plated brass and decorated with vivid blue marbled enamel, ornate scrollwork, and a hand-painted Rococo-inspired courting scene, it is both a functional vanity accessory and a miniature work of art.
The shaped lid showcases a romantic pastoral scene framed by flowing gold-plated brass ornament and richly coloured enamel panels. Every side of the compact is intricately engraved with floral and foliate motifs, while the reverse displays an equally detailed decorative pattern, making it as beautiful closed as it is open.
Inside, the beveled mirror remains perfectly clear and intact, and the original fabric-covered powder insert with its pull tab is exceptionally clean. The hinge operates smoothly, and the compact closes securely with a satisfying snap.
Marked Made Italy inside, alongside an unidentified workshop mark, the gold-plated finish tested positive with 10K gold testing acid, supporting the presence of a genuine gold finish over the brass base metal.
Whether displayed on a vanity, added to a collection of vintage compacts, or repurposed to hold jewelery or treasured keepsakes, this elegant piece is a wonderful example of Italian decorative artistry from the mid-twentieth century.
Details:
Era: Circa 1950s–1960s
Materials: Gold-plated brass (10K acid tested), hand-painted enamel, beveled mirror, fabric-covered powder insert
Condition: Excellent vintage condition. The mirror is perfectly intact and crystal clear, the original powder insert is exceptionally clean, and the compact opens and closes perfectly. Minor oxidation is present along several metal seams with light wear consistent with age.
Dimensions: 3 × 3 in