Empty Fantasía iridescent lipstick (Creyón labial iridiscente Fantasía) container

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Empty "Fantasía" iridescent lipstick (Creyón labial iridiscente Fantasía) container

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.356

Description

Cylindrical swivel-type lipstick in a colorless molded-plastic case with a fitted clear push-on cap and a white inner sleeve/mechanism. The barrel is decorated with three horizontal gilt bands framing two registers of gilt lettering; the printing is heavily abraded and now largely illegible. The flat base carries a circular printed paper label reading CREYON LABIAL IRIDISCENTE / FANTASIA / ROJO CLARO / HECHO EN CUBA, above a small printed monogram/device. The lipstick bullet is empty. Soiling and reddish residue are present around the lower barrel and base rim.

Use

Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez. She probably kept it to refill.

Context

"Creyón labial" is the Cuban term for lipstick, reflecting the 1960s policy of "cubanizing" packaging language. Fantasía was a flagship brand of Cuba's nationalized perfumery-and-cosmetics industry; the creyón labial iridiscente Fantasía was offered in 11 shades. The Fantasía name also carried prestige in fragrance — the Fantasía perfume won an international award at the Plovdiv (Bulgaria) world fair in 1975. Such domestically produced makeup circulated through the state retail network during the socialist period.

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 (iridescent-lipstick fashion and the Fantasía/Prisma/Realce product lines); tentative.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

bottom

Transcription

CREYON LABIAL IRIDISCENTE FANTASIA ROJO CLARO HECHO EN CUBA

Language

Spanish

Translation

IRIDESCENT LIP CREME FANTASIA LIGHT RED MADE IN CUBA

Notes

Base paper label (printed, black): "CREYON LABIAL / IRIDISCENTE / FANTASIA / ROJO CLARO / HECHO EN CUBA," with a small printed monogram/device beneath

Dimensions

Height

7.4 cm

Diameter

1.9 cm

Parts

Push-on cap (clear plastic); barrel/outer case (clear plastic) with white inner sleeve / swivel mechanism and base paper label.

Materials

Material

Plastic

Material Notes

Molded transparent plastic (case and cap; polystyrene or acrylic, tentative); white plastic (inner sleeve/mechanism); printed paper (base label); metallic gilt ink (barrel decoration).

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

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

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 17, 2026