Snowflake absorbent cotton wool (脱脂药棉 / Coton Hydrophile Chirurgical) roll, 25 g, French-labeled export issue

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"Snowflake" absorbent cotton wool ("脱脂药棉" / "Coton Hydrophile Chirurgical") roll, 25 g, French-labeled export issue

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.248

Description

A cylindrical roll of medical absorbent cotton wool in its original wrapper, rolled in black paper with a printed paper label around the middle. The label, framed by a red rule on a buff ground, reads "脱脂药棉" in blue Chinese characters above red lettering "Coton / HYDROPHILE CHIRURGICAL." Below: "25克" and "Par 25 Grs." (net 25 grams), a central snowflake/snow-crystal trademark device lettered "SNOWFLAKE," "中華人民共和國製造 / FABRICATION: DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE DE CHINE," and the exporter line "中國化工進出口公司上海市分公司出口 / EXPORTATION PAR SOCIÉTÉ NATIONALE CHINOISE D'IMPORTATION ET D'EXPORTATION DES PRODUITS CHIMIQUES, CHANGHAI, CHINE." This is the French-language export version of the same product as the collection's two English-labeled "Cotton Wool" rolls. The package is intact, aged, soiled, and toned.

Use

Medical supplies of Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Leopoldo Arús Gálvez collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

China National Chemicals Import & Export Corporation

Place

Country

People's Republic of China

Continent

Asia

Edition

"SNOWFLAKE" (雪花) brand

Notes

Maker Chinese state production for export; exported by the China National Chemicals Import & Export Corporation, Shanghai Branch (here in its French style, "Société Nationale Chinoise d'Importation et d'Exportation des Produits Chimiques," Shanghai/"Changhai") — the PRC's state foreign-trade monopoly (Sinochem). Producing mill not named; "Snowflake" snow-crystal device is the export brand. Date Undetermined; mid-to-late 20th century. The "Made in the People's Republic of China" wording and the China National Chemicals Import & Export Corporation export attribution indicate a PRC export product (post-1949). Place of Origin People's Republic of China (exported via Shanghai), per "Made in the People's Republic of China" and the China National Chemicals Import & Export Corp., Shanghai Branch.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

"脱脂药棉"; "Coton"; "HYDROPHILE CHIRURGICAL"; "25克"; "Par 25 Grs."; central snowflake trademark device lettered "SNOWFLAKE"; "中華人民共和國製造 / FABRICATION: DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE DE CHINE"; "中國化工進出口公司上海市分公司出口 / EXPORTATION PAR SOCIÉTÉ NATIONALE CHINOISE D'IMPORTATION ET D'EXPORTATION DES PRODUITS CHIMIQUES / CHANGHAI, CHINE."

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Place

City

Shanghai

Country

People's Republic of China

Continent

Asia

Notes

export city

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

June 4, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 23, 2026