This is a rather interesting Modernist design, textured goldtone rectangular powder compact from the Germain Monteil brand. It has its own original powder puff with the Germain Monteil signature on a gold foiled label backing, and also the brand label and an etched script signature on the bottom of the compact iteslf. It measures 7cms x 6cms x 1cm (2 3/4" x 2 3/8" x 3/8")

CONDITION
The goldtone metal is a teensy bit worn in places, but a design like this with its blocky texture, is bound to get a bit rubbed off here and there. The reverse is quite scratched, but this has been used and loved possibly for quite a long time. Please see photos as it's not in perfect condition but nevertheless makes for an interesting collector's item for collector's of vintage cosmetics. I'd imagine it may be still possible to buy a pressed powder refill to fit this. No slipcover sadly...

A little about this brand:-
GERMAIN MONTEIL
Born in Tule, in France, in 1898, Germain Monteil moved to the United States in 1918, at the young age of only 20. As a high-end dressmaker she first established herself as a fashion designer. She made classic dresses with flaring circular or pleated skirts and slim silhouettes, and was renowned for her use of prints which appealed to the American market. With her unique style and charm, she takes the American fashion world by storm. In 1938, Monteil won a Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in recognition of her influence upon the fashion industry. This was the first year in which the awards were presented.

In 1936, Monteil founded with her husband, Guy Bjorkman, Germaine Monteil Cosmetiques Corp. as a sideline to her fashion business, offering skin treatments and creams. Her first perfume, Laughter (later renamed Rigolade), came out in 1941. What started with lipsticks to match her fashion designs, quickly develops into a successful enterprise. Germaine Monteil becomes the “Grande Dame” of the booming cosmetics market in the 1940s. The increasing success of this sideline led to Monteil abandoning fashion design in the late 1940s to focus on perfume and cosmetics.

She retired in 1969, selling the company to Beecham, and eventually died in 1987. The company went through several owner changes. It was acquired by cosmetics giant Revlon in 1987 from fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. Revlon then sold the brand on to the German company Wilde Cosmetics GmbH in 2006, headquartered in Oestrich-Winkel. The Germain Monteil brand is still a high end and very popular cosmetics name to this day.