Akro Agate Mexicali Powder Jars

This jar was made by Akro for the Pickwick Cosmetic Corporation. It has a 3.25" diameter and is 4.75" tall. The jar is embossed PICKWICK COSMETIC CORPORATION, FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK on the bottom of the base. The Akro trademark--an embossed crow with marbles--is not present. One side of the base has an embossed figure of a seated Mexican taking a siesta under a cactus. The opposite side shows a seated Mexican man playing a guitar. The base is topped with a sombrero-shaped lid. These jars were originally distributed containing a spicy bath powder. After this was used, they became a handy cigarette holder or trinket box. Three different basic colors of jars are normally seen. The most common color is orange marbleized. Green marbleized is more unusual, and blue marbleized is the most difficult color to find. In addition, a few jars have been found in solid ivory without any marbleized color and some deep oxblood marbleized jars have surfaced. Other jars may contain a blend of more than one marbleized color.