There are many different kinds of compacts to collect. Before face powder came in plastic cases that you could buy in any drugstore women carried their's in compacts. They were a popular gift from sweethearts and husbands and came in a range of designs from simple metal to very elaborate costume jewelry types with rhinestones and beads on the top. There were figural compacts, also. Some teddy bears and other stuffed animals have been found with hidden compacts in their tummies, even. There are souvenir compacts that commemorate your trips at home and abroad. There are also compacts made from finer materials, gold, sterling silver and precious and semi-precious gemstones. The larger ones, often up to 6" across were called flapjacks due to their resemblance in flatness and size, to pancakes.
These beautiful compacts whether plain or embellished evoke a simpler time and an era when powdering your nose could be considered an art form. They make us think of lady spies who peek behind themselves while pretending to fix their face. It's marvelous, to me, when a simple, functional item can also be a work of art and that is the best part of collecting compacts.