Art Nouveau Style Powder Compact Huguenin Freres Dragonflies & Lily Circa 1928

This beautifully sculptured loose powder compact measures 5cm in diameter and was made in Switzerland c. 1928 in an art nouveau design. The lid design is signed ‘Huguenin DEP’ (the renowned early 20th century designer’s name and an abbreviation for ‘ Depose ’ or ‘registered design’). The inside of the powder well is also inscribed ‘METAL DORE’ and has a partial maker’s mark no longer legible. The compact is however made by Huguenin Frères et Cie., Bern, Switzerland. The company won the Grand Prix at the Bern International Exhibition in 1914 as manufacturers of medals, plaques, watch cases, jewellery and small items of decorative art. The powder compact has a strong hinge and a positive catch. The aluminium compact has a beautiful repoussé lid design of dragonflies and lily pond and is a miniature work of art. The deep powder well is empty and contains a disc of open weave linen sifter material.# This rare classic powder compact represents a state of the art example of the use of aluminium as an artistic medium in the Art Deco period. The compact is in excellent condition with no dings, no marks and no damage except the gilded finish to the inside of the case is now mostly worn away. .