Fantasía eye-shadow case (empty), shade Azul La Habana (Havana Blue) — gilt-metal casing

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Fantasía eye-shadow case (empty), shade "Azul La Habana" (Havana Blue) — gilt-metal casing

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.362

Description

Empty gilt-metal cylindrical eye-shadow case (sombra para los ojos) of two-part swivel construction — push-on cap over a barrel/base — now heavily tarnished. The cap shows dense reddish-brown corrosion spotting over worn gilding; the base is a matte, abraded gold with a brighter collar at the cap/base join. The cap top bears an engraved Fantasía rose emblem. The base is labeled "AZUL LA HABANA". No product remains; the case is empty.

Use

Kept by Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Context

Fantasía was the flagship makeup line of Cuba's nationalized perfumery-cosmetics industry. Cuba Material's catalog lists sombra para los ojos iridiscente Fantasía in two formats — a pressed powder (9 shades) and a metal-cased version ("casquillo metálico," 10 shades); this empty gilt tube is the metal-cased format, shade "Azul La Habana" (Havana Blue). A memorably strong blue Fantasía eye shadow is recalled by readers on Cuba Material. The engraved cap rose is the Fantasía brand emblem — consistent with the line's rose-themed identity (the award-winning Fantasía perfume was noted for a metallic-rose note) and reconciling the "golden flower" reported on the Fantasía lipstick cap earlier in this series.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

MINIL

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Edition

Fantasía

Notes

Date: circa 1970s–1980s; tentative.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Engraving

Location

cap

Notes

flower identifying the Fantasía brand

Type

Label

Location

bottom

Transcription

AZUL LA HABANA

Language

Spanish

Translation

BLUE HAVANA

Notes

Cap top (not imaged): engraved Fantasía rose emblem. Base (not imaged): label "AZUL LA HABANA."

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Diameter: 1.4 Height: 6.5

Height

6.5 cm

Diameter

1.4 cm

Parts

Cap (gilt metal, with engraved rose); barrel/base (gilt metal) with swivel/applicator mechanism (empty).

Materials

Material

Metal

Material Notes

Gilt/lacquered metal — brass or copper alloy — now oxidized; no product present.

Condition

Overall Condition

Poor

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, acquisition

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 17, 2026