A lithographed cardboard box containing 12 sachets of "Mauve à l'Hirondelle" dye, a renowned textile specialty of the F. Richter company in Lille, founded in 1849. The finely printed design features the brand's emblematic swallow, surrounded by medals and diplomas awarded at the major World's Fairs of the late 19th century. This type of packaging was intended for refreshing light-colored fabrics, particularly summer textiles. The box as a whole is a rare and highly decorative artifact of the textile and chemical industry in Northern France during the Belle Époque.
✦ Origin: France, Lille (Nord) ✦ Estimated period: Circa 1900 ✦ Dimensions: 12.5 x 8 x 3 cm ✦ Material: Printed cardboard ✦ Condition: Good condition with signs of wear, rubbed corners and edges. ✦ Contents: 12 Mauve a l'Hirondelle sachets - paper band missing on 1.
A collector's item evocative of textile chemistry and French industrial advertising, ideal for a cabinet of curiosities display or an old workshop setting.
