Lucky Brown Pressing Oil Packaging, 1938-1944

Summary

Valmor Product Company, founded in the mid-1920s, sold beauty products to Black Americans. The company's product packaging was designed by Charles Dawson, a successful Black commercial artist whose illustrations of attractive modern Black Americans contributed to a burgeoning culture of positive Black identity. But the company's legacy is complicated--many of its products pushed a white assimilatory ideal, promising effects like skin lightening.

Valmor Product Company, founded in the mid-1920s, sold beauty products to Black Americans. The company's product packaging was designed by Charles Dawson, a successful Black commercial artist whose illustrations of attractive modern Black Americans contributed to a burgeoning culture of positive Black identity. But the company's legacy is complicated--many of its products pushed a white assimilatory ideal, promising effects like skin lightening.

Artifact

Packaging

Date Made

1938-1944

Creators

Dawson, Charles C., 1889-1981 

Valmor Products Co. 

Place of Creation

United States, Illinois, Chicago 

Creator Notes

Cover art by Charles C. Dawson, product distributed by Valmor Products Co. of Chicago, Illinois [Famous Products was another name the company used].

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2022.57.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Katherine White.

Material

Metal

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 1 in

Diameter: 2.75 in

Inscriptions

on top of lid: Lucky Brown / REG. U.S. / PAT. OFF. / PRESSING / OIL / CONTENTS:--1.6 Oz. / Distributed by / FAMOUS PRODUCTS CO., / Chicago, U.S.A. on front of lid: PRESSES YOUR HAIR IN PLACE on back of lid: KEEPS YOUR HAIR PRETTY on bottom: DIRECTIONS / FOR USE WITH HOT COMB / Heat comb (not too hot)--Test on paper. It / should not burn paper. Rub PRESSING OIL / into hair with finger tips. Use enough. Hold / strand of hair in hand, and draw comb through / it several times. Then take another strand and / repeat treatment until all hair is pressed. / WITHOUT HOT COMB / LADIES: Rub PRESSING OIL into Hair and / comb in place. MEN: Wet hair first. Then / rub in PRESSING OIL. Brush and comb / hair in any style desired. / CONTENTS:--1.6 Oz. / DISTRIBUTED AND COPYRIGHT 1938 BY / FAMOUS PRODUCTS CO. / Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.

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