Prisma creyón labial (lipstick), shade Romance — refill (repuesto), with box

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"Prisma" creyón labial (lipstick), shade Romance — refill ("repuesto"), with box

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.355

Description

A boxed lipstick refill. The magenta printed-cardboard identifies the product as Prisma "Repuesto" creyón labial, net wt. 4 g, shade "Romance," price $0,65, Suchel, Hecho en Cuba, with the triple-triangle (prism) device. The refill itself is a bare terracotta/brownish-rose bullet (the "Romance" shade), speckled and bloomed with age. As a "repuesto," it is the replacement bullet intended for a reusable lipstick holder.

Use

Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Context

A Cuban state-produced lipstick refill of the Prisma line, made by the Empresa de Perfumería y Jabonería Suchel (Ministry of Light Industry). The "repuesto" format — selling the bullet alone to refit an existing case — reflects the economy-of-materials logic of the period; the printed state price ($0.65) is part of that fixed-price retail context. Same maker family as the earlier "tú" (Suchel) and Realce items.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Suchel

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Edition

Prisma

Notes

Maker: Suchel (Empresa de Perfumería y Jabonería Suchel; Cuban state, Ministry of Light Industry) — confirmed on the box. Line/brand Prisma; shade Romance. Date: circa 1970s–1980s — tentative (no date/lot code read).

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

box

Transcription

PRISMA REPUESTO CREYON LABIAL 4g Precio $0.65 Suchel Hecho en Cuba Romance

Language

Spanish

Translation

PRISMA REPLACEMENT LIPSTICK 4g Price $0.65 Suchel Made in Cuba Romance

Material/Technique

Ink

Notes

Box printing: "prisma" (lowercase wordmark) / "REPUESTO" / "CREYON LABIAL" / "Precio $0,65", plus a triple-triangle (prism) device.

Notes

Box printing (Spanish): "PRISMA / REPUESTO / CREYON LABIAL / 4g / Precio $0,65 / Suchel / Hecho en Cuba / Romance," plus the triple-triangle (prism) device. ("Romance" = shade name; "Repuesto" = refill; "4g" = net weight.)

Dimensions

Height

3.9 cm

Diameter

1.1 cm

Parts

Printed cardboard box; lipstick refill bullet (no holder).

Accessories

Accessory

wrap

Notes

cellophane wrap is in very bad condition

Materials

Material

Cardboard

Material Notes

Printed cardboard (box); lipstick (wax/oil composition, terracotta/rose).

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

Research Notes

Notes

Prisma was a Cuban Suchel cosmetics line (creyón labial), incl. iridescent and lip gloss of the Cuban cosmetics to Empresa de Perfumería y Jabonería Suchel. The "Prisma" hits for modern Argentine/Mexican brands are unrelated. Research the Romances connection.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 17, 2026