Antiques M.S. Rau | Paul Flato Gold And Enamel Compacts

Elegant Yet Whimsical, These Vintage Gold And Enamel Compacts By American Designer To The Stars Paul Flato Are Decorated With A Trompe-L’Œil Letter Motif. Cleverly Crafted In High Polish 14K Yellow Gold In The Shape Of An Envelope, Each Displays Witty And Intricate Details, From The Engraved Script Address And Enamel Postage Stamp On The Front, To The Red “Wax Seal” On The Reverse. Varying In Size And Shape, Two Of The Custom Boxes Are Cosmetics Compacts, One With A Hidden Mirror. The Third Box Conceals A Small Clock, For An Inventive Take On The Pocket Watch.

One Of The Most Creative American Jewelers Of The 20Th Century, Paul Flato’S Creations Reflect His Charismatic And Stylish Personality. Born In Flatonia, Texas To A Cattle Ranching Family, Flato Moved To New York In The 1920S. By The 1930S He Had Opened Two Jewelry Shops, One In Los Angeles And One In New York City. He Soon Attracted The Attention Of The A-Listers Of The “Golden Age” Of Hollywood, And His Clients Included Joan Crawford, Ginger Rogers And Marlene Dietrich.

All Crafted Of 14K Yellow Gold And Signed “Flato.”

Dated 1938

Watch Compact: 1 5/8″ Wide X 1 1/8″ Deep
Long Compact: 4 5/8″ Wide X 1 1/8″ Deep
Large Compact: 2 7/8″ Wide X 2 3/8″ Deep