Mary eye-shadow compact

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"Mary" eye-shadow compact

Entry/Object ID

2025.6.35

Description

Oval hinged compact in mottled dark-red/brown ("tortoiseshell"-effect) molded plastic. The lid bears a gilt-printed rococo scroll-and-floral cartouche centered on a small flower; a thumb-tab projects at the top edge. The base exterior is molded with concentric ribbing around a central roundel reading "Mary / Made in Poland." Opened, the lid holds an oval mirror (heavily desilvered/foxed); the base interior is fitted with shallow wells — an upper rectangular shadow pan (pale/spent), a left pan retaining pale blue shadow, a right empty well, and a long narrow channel (for a missing applicator). Surfaces are worn, soiled, and crazed.

Use

Belonged to Mirta Martínez Forteza

Context

A duo/multi-pan eye-shadow compact with integral mirror — an imported consumer cosmetic. The "Made in Poland" mark places manufacture in the Polish People's Republic (socialist Poland), consistent with goods that reached Cuba through COMECON/Eastern-Bloc trade during the socialist period. Its form is essentially identical to the unmarked "Henrietta" compact recorded earlier in this series, suggesting both came from the same Polish source (likely the same factory supplying different brand/label names).

Collection

The Martínez Suquet family collection, Mirta Martínez Forteza collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.6

Source or Donor

Mirta Suquet

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Place

Country

Poland

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

Mary

Notes

Date: circa 1960s–1980s; tentative (socialist-era Polish import; styling broadly mid-century).

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

bottom of palette

Transcription

"Mary" "Made in Poland"

Language

English

Material/Technique

Etched

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Oval - Length: 7.9 Width: 6 Height: 1.3

Height

1.3 cm

Width

6 cm

Length

7.9 cm

Parts

Lid (plastic) with mirror and gilt cartouche + hinge and thumb-tab + base (plastic) with molded "Mary / Made in Poland" roundel; shadow pans (upper; left blue; right empty).

Materials

Material

Plastic

Material Notes

Molded plastic, simulated tortoiseshell (cellulose acetate or phenolic; tentative); glass mirror; metallic gilt ink (lid); eye-shadow powders (talc/binder/pigment).

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Mirta Martínez Forteza

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Pinar del Río

State/Province

Pinar del Río

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

acquisition, use

Research Notes

Notes

The shared form strongly suggests Henrietta was also a Polish/Eastern-Bloc import from the same source under a different brand name.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 17, 2026