sold
1960s
Injection molded butterflies, one set in white and one set in gold. The white butterflies are highly stylized and very 1960’s. The gold butterflies are more realistic in their styling, and mimic carved wood. The white butterflies are marked “Burwood Products”, the gold ones are marked “HomCo” and “Made in USA.” Both pairs are marked “1967” in Roman numerals. They have a simple hanger on the back which allows them to be adjusted in a variety of ways.
The butterflies are in excellent condition with no breaks, cracks, chips, discoloration or other signs of wear. The white butterflies are approximately 6 1/2in by 6in. The large gold butterfly is approximately 6 1/2in by 5 1/2in. The small gold butterfly is approximately 6 1/2in by 4in. In 1957, a single mother named Mary C. Crowley was looking for a way to increase her earnings as a retail sales specialist. In the years that she had been in the workforce, she had gained general retail sales experience in department stores as well as early direct sales experience through companies like Stanley Home Products and World Gifts. She struck out on her own and started Home Interiors and Gifts Inc. (HomCo). As the company grew, it was able to acquire Burwood industries, a similar home decorative company. HomCo was designed like to Stanley Home Products in that it operated through a representative driven direct-sales system that was largely based around home parties. Many of the women Crowley marketed to eventually became saleswomen, called displayers, who were able to focus their business activities around their family duties. Crowley capitalized on the success of other companies that used a similar model, including Mary Kay, Avon, and Tupperware, with a special emphasis on Christian home values.