Cake mascara (máscara para pestañas, en pastilla), black

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Cake mascara (máscara para pestañas, en pastilla), black

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.368

Description

Round black cake ("block") mascara in a small two-part molded-plastic pot of yellow/amber-cream plastic. The lid (Image 1) is a shallow translucent disc, interior cloudy/frosted and empty. The base (Image 2) holds a black pressed mascara cake set within the translucent rim; the cake surface shows brush striations and wear from use. No applicator brush is present. No brand, label, shade, or country marking is visible on either component.

Use

Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Context

Cake (or "block") mascara is applied by loading a wetted brush against a hard pressed cake — the dominant mascara format from the early-to-mid 20th century, before automatic wand tubes became standard. Cuba's state cosmetics industry did produce mascara (Cuba Material's catalog lists a máscara para pestañas Realce), so a Cuban origin is plausible for this object, but nothing on it confirms brand or manufacture; it could equally be an import or Repúblican-era item. Recorded here without attribution.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Manufacturer: undetermined — no brand, monogram, or country mark visible on either part. Date: undetermined from available evidence; the cake-mascara format is broadly mid-20th-century and consistent with the collection period, but cannot be fixed without markings. Place: undetermined (possible Cuban state production — e.g., the Realce mascara line — but unconfirmed; could be an import).

Dimensions

Height

1.1 cm

Diameter

4.5 cm

Parts

Lid (translucent yellow plastic); base pot (translucent yellow plastic); black pressed mascara cake.

Materials

Material

Plastic

Material Notes

Translucent molded plastic (lid and base); pressed cake mascara (traditionally a soap/wax base with carbon-black pigment).

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

A Cuban origin is possible given the state industry's máscara para pestañas Realce (per cubamaterial.com/blog/productos-de-belleza/), but this object bears no Realce or other branding; do not assert Cuban manufacture on present evidence.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 17, 2026