The picture below shows a larger view of both sides of this Unused 1940s Occupied Japan Quintuplets Novelty Shell Water Flowers. The shell is not dated but it is from the 1940s following the end of World War II. This water flowers shell is believed to have been made by a company named Cosmo for a novelty souvenir toy prize for the Dionne Quintuplets. That company was also supplying these water flowers to The Cracker Jack Company for prizes in their Pop Corn Confection. They may have even used this one. The Cracker Jack ID number was Z-0870. The shell has a thin paper seal on the outside that would dissolve in water. As water entered the shell it would wet the paper flowers inside and they would swell up, and magically open the shell. The novelty could only be used once. The thin seal on the shell has separated over time, but the unused water flowers are intact and unused inside the shell. At least you can now see the tiny paper flowers inside. The seal is marked as follows: QUINTUPLETS SHELL WATER FLOWER MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN TRADE MARK The shell measures about 1-1/4'' wide. It appears to be in excellent condition as pictured with the seal separated as mentioned above. |