WISDOM & SECURITY
KIGU of LONDON
VINTAGE POWDER COMPACT
VTG KIGU of LONDON POWDER COMPACT for LICENSED TRADE CHARITY - L.V.N.H., 1960
This is one of KIGU marketing compacts, extremely rare to find, measures 3“ in diameter x 1/2“ deep, made in the 1960s as a promotional advertisement for L.V.N.H.
Licensed Victualers National Homes was founded in 1793, a charity set up to care for retired people who worked in the British pubs, bars and brewery industry. It's now called the Licensed Trade Charity that helps support hundreds of pubs, bar & brewery people facing with practical, emotional and financial support.
The gold-plated compact case is an unique treasure enhanced with domed clear lucite lid over silver Owl on a blue background with inscription:
L.V.N.H.
WISDOM & SECURITY
The compact remains in a new unused condition since late 1960s. It has a strong hinge and a positive closure and closes with snap-sound. The lid carries the original framed glass mirror with good reflective surface. The base is gorgeous - gold-plated in engine-turned-stardust design and its looks as brand new. The powder well contains KIGU original insert that reads: compact is convertible for loose and solid powders.
“KIGU PLUS” sifter is washable, hygienic and of lasting quality
PATENTED
To remove empty container insert nail file into gap”.
The sifter is made of a white lucite and the puff is inscribed with KUGU of London, however for accuracy we need to mention that the button part of a puff deteriorated -probably from age, and we had to discarded it. The compact is in excellent working order and comes in original red box marked KIGU. The box is like new. This is one-of-a-kind earlier promotional compact made by KIGU.
The USPS First Class Package International applied only to the UK, Canada and Australia. To all other destinations, the item will be shipped via the USPS Priority Mail International or via eBay International Shipping.
JOSEF KIASCHEK, master Goldsmith, created the first ever KiGU Powder Compact in his workshops in Budapest, Hungary. His son, GUSTAV subsequently founded KIGU in Budapest and was the creator of fine hand-made compacts. Gustav raised three sons, Charles, Paul and George. Charles settled in New York to pursue his career as a goldsmith. George moved to London where he founded KIGU of LONDON and was later joined by his brother Paul in post-war years. Kigu's reputation for quality of design, innovation and quality remained unsurpassed during the boom years for Powder Compacts. Exports were made to most countries throughout the world where the KIGU brand became a household name. Upon George's death in 1977, his son David joined the Company having just completed studies at University and took the brand through until the early 1980's at which-time the famous KIGU brand was acquired by A.S. Brown Mfg. who themselves had their own range of MASCOT compacts.
Subsequently, Laughton & Sons. acquired both the KIGU and MASCOT brands to add to their own STRATTON compact brand.