Description
Antique Victorian Swansdown Feather Powder Puff Silk Houppe Celluloid Handle French Houppette.
This is a genuine rare antique French made houpette for your dressing table.
Off white silk gathered over natural swansdown feathers, topped by a celluloid or bone knob handle. Excellent condition and clean.
In the 1700s, hair powder was applied using a large powder puff (la Houppe en Duvet de Cygne).
These gorgeous puffs of swansdown began to appear in perfumers’ inventories from the beginning of the century;
cheaper versions were also available, made of wool, yarn and cats hair.
These were then used for face powder.
The powder puffs were made by sewing a bunch of swansdown feathers on to a circular piece of silk or cotton cloth and affixing to that a small handle.
Very old antique piece
Please study the photographs for the condition of this item
