Kigu have to be in with some of my favourite compact manufactures. They were created by a master silver and goldsmith - Gustav Kiashak who by the 1920s had a working factory in Budapest. His son emigrated to the UK in 1939 and by 1947 Kigu. Co. was founded. They came to share the British compact limelight predominately with Stratton and were later brought out by them.
Today Kigu compacts are relatively easy to come across on both sides of the Atlantic - one of the first compacts I brought for my collection myself was a petite point flowered Kigu design. Which is why it wasn't too much of a surprise finding this silver toned compact in the garage sale in Royal Oak. Normally Kigu compacts come marked with this, their infamous crowned triangular hallmark often engraved into the tap flap of the powder well;
This compact however is without such a marking, however a "Made in KIGU London" is etched into the metal under the mirror alongside the branded powder puff. Predominately silver, a band of gold toned flowers hang down the centre of the compact, opening it up reveals a golden compact within. In addition to puff this compact came complete with it's stiff.
Finding a piece of England in the US always makes me wonder about it's journey to the other side of the pond. Was it brought and sold in America or the UK? Did it make it's way over seas as a gift from an English holiday?
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