Vintage 1930s L.S. Mayer LSM ‘Elma’ Large Art Deco Minaudière Vanity Case
Vintage 1930s L.S. Mayer LSM ‘Elma’ Large Art Deco Minaudière Vanity Case
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Every vintage piece is individually checked and described, with any notable age-related wear clearly detailed and photographed. Orders are carefully packed and sent using tracked delivery, with international shipping available.
A fabulous and wonderfully engineered 1930s Art Deco vanity case, identified as the large-size L.S. Mayer ‘Elma’ by comparison with the example illustrated in Lisa Larsson’s specialist L.S. Mayer identification guide.
Measuring approximately 15.5 x 10.5 x 2 cm, this substantial minaudière was designed as an elegant all-in-one evening companion, incorporating an extraordinary array of fitted compartments within its slim rectangular form.
Opening the large mirrored lid reveals a beautifully arranged gilt interior with separate powder and rouge compartments, lipstick fitting, cigarette compartment and a further fitted section containing its tortoiseshell-effect comb. Particularly lovely is the surviving rouge, which remains in place together with its original paper refill instruction label – a wonderful piece of period detail rarely retained.
The exterior is finished in cream enamel with gilt metal fittings and a distinctive broad ribbed clasp. The quality and complexity of the construction are wonderfully characteristic of L.S. Mayer’s ingenious pre-war vanity cases.
This particular example carries no visible maker’s mark, so the attribution has been made by comparison with the documented LSM ‘Elma’ large-size vanity case illustrated in Lisa Larsson’s identification guide, rather than from a mark on the case itself. Larsson’s extensive research into L.S. Mayer and her specialist reference guides are recognised by the British Compact Collectors Society.
The case remains remarkably complete, retaining many of the small components so often lost from these elaborate vanity cases.
There is age-related wear throughout. Most notably, the cream enamel has fading and tonal variation, with further wear to the gilt finish consistent with its age. Please study the photographs carefully as these form part of the condition description.
A fascinating and unusually complete example of the LSM Elma, and a wonderful piece for a collector of L.S. Mayer, Art Deco minaudières and ingenious vintage vanity accessories.