Bar of Jovel bath soap (green)

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Bar of "Jovel" bath soap (green)

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.166

Description

A rectangular bar of toilet/bath soap, originally green, embossed "Jovel" across one face (the brand reads in lowercase script, now only partly legible). The bar is heavily aged and degraded: most of the surface is obscured by a thick whitish-to-tan bloom/efflorescence and apparent mold growth, with brown discoloration, surface pitting/erosion, and fine cracking; the rounded-rectangular form survives but the original color shows only in patches. The standard rationed-market Cuban toilet soap "Jovel."

Use

Kept in a box, in the Arús Caraballo household, stored in a barbacoa for decades with other soaps.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Suchel-Jovel

Place

City

Jovellanos, Matanzas

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Edition

Jovel

Notes

Maker: Suchel-Jovel, a base enterprise unit (UEB) of the Cuban state Grupo Suchel (soap/perfumery), located at Jovellanos, Matanzas. "Jovel" is its long-standing rationed-market soap/detergent brand (the name derives from Jovellanos). Date: circa 1960s–1980s (tentative). Jovel was a staple ration-market soap over many years; no date or batch mark on the bar, so the specific year is undetermined.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

Jovel

Language

Spanish

Dimensions

Height

2.5 cm

Width

9.5 cm

Depth

6 cm

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Toilet/bath soap (saponified fats/oils), green pigment; extensive surface bloom/efflorescence and apparent mold from aging. Technique: Molded/stamped soap bar with embossed brand name.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

MINIL

Notes

producer

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

acquisition, ownership

Place

City

Jovellanos, Matanzas

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

production

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 5, 2026