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Marlen cosmetics pouch (soft envelope-flap case)
Object/Artifact
Flat square soft cosmetics pouch in light-blue vinyl with an allover fine woven-texture emboss. A rounded envelope flap closes over the front and tucks into a horizontal slot; the flap and tuck-slot are bordered by an embossed faux-stitch/dashed line, and the flap centers an embossed rectangular cartouche with the cursive brand "Marlen." A slot/pocket beneath the flap edge could have held a slim compact and/or a pencil or brush. The pouch is empty; surface soiled, stained, and creased with wear. No contents, maker mark, or country marking are present.
2025.1.369
Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez
A soft slip-pouch of this kind typically held a flat cosmetic (powder or eye-shadow compact) and a slim applicator, serving as a handbag vanity case. "Marlen" appears as the brand on the flap, but it is not documented among Cuban state-cosmetics lines (Fantasía, Prisma, Realce, Alondra, Cirene, Tess) or otherwise verifiable as a 1950s–60s Cuban brand; within the collection it may be a pre-revolutionary (República-era) item or an import.
The Cabrera Arús family collection
Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition
2025.1
Marlen
Date: undetermined; the embossed faux-stitch vinyl and script-cartouche styling is broadly mid-20th-century (circa 1950s–1960s), so a pre-1959 (República-era) origin is possible but unconfirmed — flagged as potentially at or below the lower edge of the 1959–1990 collection period.
Inscription
Marlen
7 cm
6.8 cm
Pouch body with envelope flap and tuck-slot closure; interior slot/pocket (for compact and/or pencil/brush). No contents present.
Plastic
Vinyl, light blue, texture-embossed; exact material tentative (could be soft PVC or coated card).
Fair
Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez
owner
Havana
Cuba
Caribbean
Central America
use
No 1950s–60s Cuban "Marlen" cosmetics brand found; modern "Marlen" cosmetics entities (Guatemala's Marlen Lamur; a North Miami "Marlen Perfumes & Cosmetics Inc.") appear unrelated and are noted only as unverified leads. Origin and date are open. A pre-1959 República-era date is stylistically plausible but unconfirmed; equally could be an import or early-socialist.