{"product_id":"vintage-stratton-loose-powder-compact-featuring-a-queen-elizabeth-ii-eiir-era-british-military-insignia","title":"Vintage Stratton Presentation Compact, EIIR Royal Cypher Badge, British Nationalised Transport Institution, Basket-Weave Engine-Turning, Greek Key Border, Made in England, 1950s-1960s","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis was not sold. This was given.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is a category of Stratton compact that never appeared on a shop counter. Stratton of England produced presentation-grade compacts for institutions, organisations, and official bodies throughout the mid-century period: gifted to staff at retirement, in recognition of service, or to mark a significant occasion. This is one of those. The lid carries a mounted badge: a silver-tone sunray or star-burst mount with radiating points, centred on a raised circular disc carrying the EIIR royal cypher in gold-tone relief, surrounded by a legend band referencing a Great Britain transport institution. The EIIR cypher dates this to the reign of Elizabeth II, post-1952. The badge format, the sunray mount, and the nationalised body reference place it in the era of the great mid-century British nationalised transport organisations. Someone received this. It was a recognition of something.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe compact body is Stratton at their most formal. The reverse carries an all-over basket-weave engine-turning: tight interlocking rectangular cuts across the entire gold-tone surface, creating a woven textile pattern of considerable density and precision, the Stratton England script cartouche set centrally into the field. The lid carries an engraved Greek key meander border running around the circumference just inside the outer rim, a classical formality that marks this as a presentation piece rather than a standard catalogue compact. The clasp is a broad flat push-piece tab, gold-tone. The single-barrel hinge is tight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe compact shows light use: some minor gold plate rubbing at the outer rim near the clasp, faint surface marks to the mirror interior, consistent with a piece that was carried and used rather than displayed. No damage. The sifter is present in the base section. The original slip is present.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Particulars:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaker: Stratton, Made in England; script cartouche to basket-weave reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForm: Large circular powder compact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLid: Applied presentation badge: silver-tone sunray\/star-burst mount, central raised disc with EIIR royal cypher in gold-tone, institutional legend band referencing Great Britain transport body; Greek key meander border engraved to lid circumference\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReverse: All-over basket-weave engine-turning, gold-tone; Stratton England cartouche centred\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterior: Full-width mirror (bright, light surface marks from use); gold-tone base with intact sifter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncluded: Original sifter, original slip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot included: Powder puff, outer box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: Light use. Minor gold plate rubbing at rim near clasp. No damage. Please review all photos carefully and note the badge legend text in the close-up image before purchasing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeriod: Post-1952, most likely 1950s-1960s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eStratton made the body. An institution commissioned the badge. Someone earned it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArrives tucked inside its own treasure coffin and carefully wrapped as a vault relic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vaen’kai Vault","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54934067118419,"sku":"VKVC-H122","price":210.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1085\/2771\/4643\/files\/DSC_7709_9a7de8a2-33f6-4aae-a004-35f532031857.jpg?v=1789324817","url":"https:\/\/vaenkaivault.com\/products\/vintage-stratton-loose-powder-compact-featuring-a-queen-elizabeth-ii-eiir-era-british-military-insignia","provider":"Vaen’kai Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}