Lablache Face Powder
- 1910s
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Small JPG1200 x 859px — 52.3 KBLarge JPG2880 x 2061px — 237 KBFull-sized JPG3186 x 2280px — 279 KBOriginal fileTIFF — 3186 x 2280px — 20.8 MBAn empty circular white cardboard box with gold rims that held a face powder. The paper label is decorated with a winged cherub holding aloft a Lablache Face Powder banner with the words "a harmless toilet powder" directly overhead. "Flesh" is written across the top of the packaging, indicating the tone of the cosmetic powder. The label also includes Ben Levy’s overprinted signature in red.
Benjamin Levy (1945-1929), a French businessman, established his company in 1871 and named it, simply, Ben Levy Co. It is not clear whether the company was established first in France, but it is likely that Levy immigrated to the United States to create his business there, chosing Boston as his base of operations. His signature face powder, Lablache, first made its appearance in February 1879.
By 1913, Lablache powder sold for 50 cents a box and was available in the colors flesh, white, pink, or cream. Contemporary advertisements warned of the dangers of using other powders while extolling the virtues of Lablache in "...refreshing and beautifying the complexion." Such claims were probably reassuring as the use of heavy metal-based powders was quite commonplace, and examples of poisoning in connection with their use were well known.
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Rights | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License |
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Cite as
Science History Institute. Lablache Face Powder. Photograph, 2022. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/zsswv8u.
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