In the late 1920s and early 1930s, American manufacturers created a stunning variety of powder compacts reflecting the modern design concepts of what we now call Art Deco. The advent of the Great Depression had a devastating effect on the producers of these beautiful compacts. Many manufacturers either went out of business or merged with other companies. The book includes comprehensive coverage of the Art Deco compacts produced by Elgin American and J. M. Fisher as well as a survey of Art Deco compacts produced by other American manufacturers of this era including Evans Case Company; Girey Company; Marathon Company; Pilcher Manufacturing Company; Richard Hudnut Corporation; Ripley & Gowen Company; Theodore W. Foster & Bros. Co.; Volupte, Inc.; and others. The book includes 1120 color photographs, historical information relating to the emergence of powder compacts and Art Deco design, historical information concerning American compact manufacturers of this era, an extensive bibliography, and other reference materials.