Face powder compact presented to Dame Enid Lyons

This is a circular silver face powder compact featuring the Edinburgh coat of arms and an engraved inscription, ‘9-8-35’. It contains a mirror and remnants of face powder. The powder compact is part of a collection associated with Australian Prime Minister Joseph Lyons and his politician wife, Dame Enid Lyons. The engraved sterling silver compact was presented to Dame Enid Lyons during her visit by the City of Edinburgh on 9 August 1935. Dame Enid Lyons (1897–1981) was involved in politics throughout her life and made history when she became the first woman elected to the Australian House of Representatives and to the federal Cabinet. Joseph Aloysius Lyons (1879–1939) became premier of Tasmania in 1923 and served several portfolios in Federal Government before becoming Prime Minister from 1932 until his death in 1939. Lyons formed the United Australia Party, the precursor of today’s Liberal Party, and is regarded as a key political figure of twentieth century Australia.