No Purse Would Be Complete Without A Compact

BOOK REVIEW

By the 1930s, it seemed every woman needed a compact in her pure, to hold a bit of powder and a small powder puff. The compacts apparently evolved from the men’s watch cases, which prior to World War I were used to hold pocket watches. Once men found that wristwatches were more convenient, some entrepreneur apparently found a new way to use his manufacturing capabilities. It is not known for sure who came up with the idea of making the transition from watch cases to compacts, but it wasn’t too many years before it was a well-entrenched idea.

The four big companies producing women’s compacts were Volupte, Rex, Dorset and Zell. Examples of their work, as well as several others, are showcased in Mueller’s Overview of American Compacts & Vanity Cases, by Laura M. Mueller. Hundreds of compacts, as well as some of the advertising, patent drawings and more, are pictured in the book.

A compact is defined as a small cosmetic case containing only face powder and a mirror; a vanity case, sometimes called a double compact, also contained rouge.

There were other variations. A triple case added a place for lipstick. A combination case might contain a coin holder or a place for a comb. Whatever style a woman chose, or was given as a gift, it was an important fashion accessory.

Mueller’s Overview of American Compacts & Vanity Cases (ISBN: 978-1-57432-567-6) is published by Collector Books. It is priced at $29.95. Note:  this book is not a value guide.

Donna Miller

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The Entire World Participates In The
Life Of Barbie & Friends

BOOK REVIEW

Barbie Around The World is an identification and value guide for those Barbies that have been made and sold in 140 different countries. It is written by J. Michael Augustyniak and published by Collector Books. It covers the period from 1964 to 2007.

Barbie’s face is changed to appeal to buyers in foreign countries, and today, she is as diverse as the various peoples of the world.

The introduction to the book includes notes of Barbies in many different countries. In Australia in 1976, Barbie wore an Australian Olympic swimsuit and her gold medal featured a Kangaroo. In China, one of the special Barbies is named “Going Home Barbie.” Since 2002, it has been used as a souvenir gift to adopting parents of Chinese children who stay at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China, She is packaged with a Chinese infant.

Barbie made her debut in India in 1991, wearing a traditional Indian sari and the Hindu dot on her forehead.

Japanese anime influenced the design in the 1970s of Barbie’s friend Eli, with her large head and big eyes. Tuli-Chan and Cho Cha Chan were anime versions of Francie and Skipper.

Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Canada, and all of Europe all have their own versions of this American sweetheart and offer collectors an almost endless opportunity to add to their collections. Barbie Around the World (ISBN: 978-1-57432-0) is priced at $29.95. Check with your local bookseller or order online from www.collectorbooks.com.

Donna Miller

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Patriotic Jewelry In Schiffer Book

BOOK REVIEW

What could be a better time to display a collection of patriotic jewelry than by wearing it on one of the summer’s holidays – especially Flag Day and Independence Day.  This jewelry, especially flags highlighted with red, blue and crystal rhinestones, is the subject of Star Spangled Jewelry, by Sandra J. Whitson and Nancy N. Schiffer.

Flags are not the only form of patriotic jewelry depicted in the book, and all the pieces do not contain rhinestones. You’ll also find shields, stars, ribbons, eagles, the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam.

Some of the unexpected pieces, using red and white stripes and white stars on a blue background use other animals, such as cats dressed up like Uncle Sam. There are dated pieces, such as those commemorating Pearl Harbor and the first moon landing.  There’s a large assortment of patriotic pieces that combine the red, white and blue look with Christmas motifs, including Christmas trees and snowmen dressed like Uncle Sam.

Representations of soldiers and sailors were especially popular during World War II, as were V for Victory pins, and there’s a nice assortment of airplanes, also popular during the war. Most of these are rhinestone decorated.

Over 600 color photographs of pieces of patriotic jewelry are included in the book. Some were made by big-name designers and many are by unknown makers. Regardless of who made them, they all proclaim the message of loyalty to our country.

Star Spangled Jewelry (ISBN: 978-0-7643-2648-6) is priced at $29.95, and is a Schiffer publication. Check with your local bookseller or contact Schiffer at www.schifferbooks.com; or (610) 593-1777. Note: this book is not a price guide.

Donna Miller

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