DERMA. FRAGRANCES. GDR

The themed exhibition "DERMA. FRAGRANCES. GDR", which is integrated into the annually revised permanent exhibition "Perfume Bottles – A Journey Through the 20th Century", focuses on the 100th anniversary of the cosmetics manufacturer L.A. Schmitt from Ludwigsstadt in Upper Franconia. The regional company was founded in Leipzig in 1925 by its founder Ludwig Adalbert Schmitt. The new image of women in the 1920s was associated with a need for freedom and individualism, which included a new understanding of beauty and health. In the early days, Ludwig Schmitt did not focus on the triumph of lipstick, but on creams and oral hygiene products. Accordingly, pharmacies became an important sales partner. Even a field service for on-site customer care was essential. After the Leipzig production facility was destroyed by the effects of World War II, the company managed to rebuild and continue its business in the still young GDR thanks to tremendous efforts and the help of its loyal and hard-working employees. Not least, the political changes in 1953 led to a shift to the market-oriented Federal Republic of Germany.
Thanks to the kind support of L.A. Schmitt GmbH and its managing director, Mr Ivo Petschke, this collaborative exhibition provides the first overview of Ludwig Schmitt's life's work and the products from the 1950s to the 1980s. The company's collection of historical cosmetic products from the ESCODONT, MARAVILLA, TRILBY, BERNOTH and other brands provided for this purpose will be donated to the European Flakon Glass Museum after the exhibition. This deserves not only the warmest thanks of the EFGM and its sponsor, Glasbewahrer am Rennsteig e.V., but also a large number of interested guests from near and far.

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Last edited on 21.07.2026