Paper packet of facial powder (polvo facial), unbranded

Name/Title

Paper packet of facial powder (polvo facial), unbranded

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.371

Description

Small rectangular packet of kraft paper, folded closed, heavily toned, soiled, and spotted. No printing, label, stamp, or maker's mark appears anywhere on the surface. It contains facial powder.

Use

Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Context

A plain, unprinted paper packet used to hold or dispense loose facial powder. Such packaging is typically undatable on its own and is most associated with periods of acute shortage; in the Cuban context this points especially to the Período Especial of the 1990s, though plain-paper dispensing recurred at other times as well. No branding ties it to a specific producer.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Date: undetermined; plain generic paper packaging suggests a scarcity period and is undatable from the object alone — it may postdate 1990 (e.g., the Período Especial), which would place it at or just beyond the upper edge of the 1959–1990 collection period.

Dimensions

Height

21 cm

Width

8 cm

Parts

Folded paper packet (single component). Contents (powder).

Materials

Material

Paper

Material Notes

Kraft paper; facial powder.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Research Notes

Notes

The interest of this item is documentary, not as a branded product: it evidences generic/improvised cosmetic packaging under scarcity.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 17, 2026