Vintage Compact Powder Rembha Egyptian Revival 1900s

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

i000000 Vintage Compact Powder Rembha Egyptian Revival 1900s Description Vintage Compact Powder Rembha Egyptian Revival 1900s Full compact refill with Egyptian motifs, gryphon - never opened. We list a wide variety of antique, old and vintage items, (always guaranteed authentic, no reproductions), including estate jewelry, toys, dolls and doll accessories, clothing, ephemera, pottery, sewing items, prints, and some true oddities that run the age gamut from the early 1800s to the 1960s. Please check back often to see what treasures we may have listed recently. Offered in this auction is a hard-to-find, full power compact refill from the 1900s-1920s. The immediate attraction of this item is definitely its box, with full Egyptian Revival motifs and, oddly enough, a griffon or gryphon at the center. The colors are simply fantastic, and it reflects the craze at the time for all things exotic, especially anything to do with Egypt . Theodore Roosevelt had travelled to Egypt in 1910, and King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in 1922. There is a lotus flower border motif at top and bottom, as well as a woman at center in robes and dancing outfit, flanked by two ebony men making offerings to her. There is a gryphon in light grey in the background. The sides of the box are decorated with lithographs of different Egyptian-looking items or flowers. The box itself is made of thick, heavy cardboard, and is oddly shaped somewhat like a sarcophagus. It has a beveled lid, which fits tightly into the bottom of the case. The top of the lid is padded and embossed. This is a well-made, substantial piece with exquisite detail, and I would expect that this particular face powder would have been one of the pricier brands available. The top of the lid reads” REMBHA (in an Egyptian stylized font) / Boerner Fry Co. / Iowa City , Iowa . Open the lid and there is a metallic gold liner, unopened. There is a substantial amount of powder in the box and the bottom of the box reads ‘flesh,’ obviously the color of the powder. You will be hard pressed to find a compact powder box that retains its unopened product. Research from thevintagepowderroom indicates that the Boerner Fry Company was in business during the 1900s. In fact, Dr. Emil Boerner was a Prussian immigrant who built a factory in downtown Iowa City , Iowa in which he produced vanilla extract, perfumes and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Boerner graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1876. That same year he returned to Iowa and opened the Boerner Pharmacy. Boerner was primarily responsible for founding the pharmacy department at the University of Iowa and in 1885 he served as the sole faculty member to 13 enrollees (twelve men and one woman). He passed away in 1903. In 1922 the building that was his factory was converted to the Davis Hotel. It is now an historic landmark. This is a hard-to find collectible, especially with all contents included and its almost-perfect condition. There is a moon-shaped impression at the very bottom of the box, and slight corner bumps. Overall, I would appraise this item in excellent, near mint condition. If you collect vintage or antique powder compacts, powder boxes, or Egyptian Revival items, this box is certain to please. Please check our other auctions to see if there is anything else that may catch your eye! Measurements (approximate): Length 3-3/4 inches; Width at widest point 3-3/16 inches; Depth 1-1/2 inches. Condition: Excellent to Near Mint (as a vintage/antique item) Please, wait for our invoice - not the one sent by eBay telling you of your win.You will receive an invoice from One Moon Mercantile within 12 hours of your win.Please pay from that invoice. Thank you! Terms of Sale We try to offer only the best quality in collectible, antique and vintage i... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.