Mini encaustic box “Melitta - Turpentine Encaustic”

A small, circular tin box in lithographed, orange-yellow tin, with a clean and highly legible design, marked "Encaustique térébenthine" (Turpentine Encaustic) and the name MELITTA arranged around a stylized fleur-de-lis. The inscription "Abbaye St-Wandrille" (St. Wandrille Abbey) links this product to monastic or para-monastic production, a tradition deeply rooted in the cleaning and personal care products distributed by French abbeys at the beginning of the 20th century. The reverse is plain, revealing the tin with a patina of use characteristic of small, utilitarian items.

✦ Origin: France - Saint-Wandrille Abbey
✦ Estimated period: Circa 1930–1950
✦ Dimensions: 4 × 1.5 cm
✦ Material: Lithographed sheet metal
✦ Condition: Good overall condition, visible signs of wear and rubbing, slight oxidation on the reverse, well-preserved lithograph on the lid

Small format typical of French encaustics of monastic origin, appreciated for its sober graphic design, its bright color and its direct link with a renowned abbey.