Vintage 1940s Hudnut Salon NYC Wood Advertising Trinket Box Success Kit 17"x13x4

Description: This box, is really kind of an interesting piece from a historical perspective, but first here are the basics... Size 17" x 13" x 4" (3" tall in front) The height of 4" is at the top (back) The height in the front is 3" So this is sloped. Made of real wood and hand painted, this has the original paint. The top lid lifts up and the front (when closed) is sloped down (like on a lap desk) so you can use it to write on and also store things in it etc. Condition is: painted finish has quite a bit of wear to the painted aqua finish. I am sure this is faded. There are areas of scuffs, scratches, etc (please study the images) The wear is all cosmetic however (excuse the pun) there is nothing wrong with the hinges, joints or the construction of the box itself (very good condition that regard) There are no deep dents or dings to the wood. Richard Hudnut was an entrepreneur credited with being the first to mass produce and market cosmetics to the US in the late 18- and early 1900s. His company also later opened salons to sell his products and collaborated with various department stores. In the 1920s or 30s the company started a "Success school" which was aimed at (quote) "conditioning young debutantes for their coming out" (into society). Later the company came out with a home "success" correspondence program for older non-teenaged women in the general public that they could do at home. It was apparently a six week at home correspondence course. You received a kit full of their products, beauty instructions, makeup tips, weight loss instructions/exercise (and who knows what all else) There was a lesson a day for six weeks. The kits were paid for up front by the buyer...20.00 which was a good chunk of change back then. Short version: Basically a marketing ploy to garner new customers who they believed would remain loyal to the brand once the success course was over, thus generating more sales from the "beautifully transformed" women who bought their kits. By the start of the 1950s the plug was pulled on the success program, so this is definitely from the 1940s. The top of the box has "Success" hand painted on it in a flowery font. I believe this was a case for one of the kits. This would make a great store display! The finish is actually really interesting because of the wear. Will be carefully packed for shipping. Thanks for looking.

Price: 29.99 USD

Location: Bentonville, Virginia

End Time: 2025-02-11T21:17:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD