Makeup and Jewellery

This is the complete series of boxes, one of which I Blipped yesterday. The main box is the same size as a shoe box with folding handles and has a removable insert lid; the four smaller boxes can then fit inside for transportation.

This was made by a very basic method of casting in sand many years ago in the far east. There are various faults within the metal which have, over time, become features e.g. the hole in the lid edge of the left hand box.

I bought the set on Labuan Island, which is about 15 miles off the coast of Brunei. Labuan was a thriving source of duty free electronics, but also housed a few antique shops. I have no idea exactly how old the set is. Many hours were spent producing new brass hinge pins, as the originals had worn out and disappeared. The box at front centre contained remnants of face bleaching powder, the other boxes would have contained other beauty products or jewellery.