Italian pharmaceutical manufacturer, Bertelli, was founded in 1888. Over the years, they branched out into cosmetics and perfumes, as well as perfumed soaps. With the huge worldwide success and popularity of Disney's
Snow White in 1938, Bertelli produced a series of small Biancaneve bar soaps in their "Sapol" line. They featured images of the Seven Dwarfs on the wrappers and the soaps themselves. Circa 1938-40.
The wrappers were made of thin paperboard, 6.5 cm tall. Printed by Gros Monti, they could be collected like trading cards.
Image via Little Nemo Auction House.
Images via Disneyana.it.
The bars came packed together in a box with a Snow White illustration on the cover. Although all seven of the dwarfs are represented inside, the box only contained six soaps. Grumpy didn't want to wash so he did not get a bar. Box measures approximate 10.75" x 2.75" x 1.75" (27,5 x 7 x 4,5 cm).
Soap box and bar images via babyboomerscult.
Check out a Bertelli soap ad poster in
earlier Archive entry. Also see a comparable boxed soap set by Kerk Guild (in an upcoming post).
Special thanks to
Nunziante Valoroso for his invaluable assistance with this post.
