Small round compact in black molded plastic with a hinged, snap-closing lid. The lid exterior is printed in gold with a stylized rosebud-and-leaf device above the brand name "FANTASIA." Inside, a circular mirror is set in the lid and a pressed iridescent rouge (blush) cake sits in the base. The underside carries a printed paper label.
Acquisition
Accession
2025.20
Acquisition Method
Gift
Made/Created
Manufacturer
MINIL
Place
Country
Cuba
Region
Caribbean, Central America
Notes
Maker: Brand "Fantasía," a Cuban state cosmetics line; the producer is not named on the label beyond a small monogram (unresolved). The probable manufacturer is the Empresa de Perfumería y Jabonería Suchel, the Cuban state perfumery/cosmetics enterprise (tentative). Brand confirmed via the collection's own documentation.
Date: Undated. A Cuban domestic cosmetic; the Fantasía line is documented in the 1970s–80s Cuban-cosmetics context, so a date within 1959–1990 (likely 1970s–80s) is plausible but unconfirmed. Tentative.
Inscription/Signature/Marks
Notes
Lid: "FANTASIA" with a gold rosebud-and-leaf device
Underside label: "COLORETE EN POLVO / IRIDISCENTE / FANTASIA / ROSA INDIO / HECHO EN CUBA," with a small maker's monogram beneath (worn, not legibly resolved)
Materials
Material Notes
Materials: Molded black plastic (case); glass mirror; pressed cosmetic powder (rouge/blush) with an iridescent (pearl/mica) finish; paper label.
Technique: Injection-molded plastic compact with hinged lid; gold lid printing (hot-stamp or screen); pressed powder cake; applied paper label.
Condition
Overall Condition
Fair
Research Notes
Notes
"Fantasía" was a Cuban state makeup line spanning lipstick, compact-powder blush, eyeshadow, and nail polish; this is the iridescent compact-powder colorete in shade "Rosa Indio."
Production of Cuban cosmetics and perfumery in the period was concentrated in the state enterprise Suchel, the probable producer here, though the label monogram could not be matched to confirm it.
The Spanish-only label reflects a 1960s Cuban regulation favoring Spanish on packaging.
