Kunik Petie Vanity (leather, black)
The Kunik Petie Vanity is a subminiature novelty camera built into a small leather-clad cosmetic case, with the body finished in black. It belongs to the family of mid-twentieth-century vanity cameras intended as combined compact and camera, aimed at fashion-conscious buyers rather than serious photographers.
Sales data for this variant is extremely thin: a single recorded UK auction hammer result of £480 from 2005 sets the only documented price point, so today's market value is difficult to pin down with precision. Subminiature vanity cameras like this tend to be highly condition-sensitive at saleroom level, with completeness of the case, mirror, powder compartment and original presentation strongly affecting what an example sells for. On that basis a clean, complete black-leather Petie Vanity could reasonably be worth a figure in the same general region, but buyers should treat any single comparable as indicative rather than definitive.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: November 2015
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2015 | EUR 950 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 28 (Lot AI_28_32552) Title: Kunik Germany Petie Vanity
Description:
Petie camera housed in a make-up compact, front door opens to reveal mirror and powder, one of the top knobs provides a space for lipstick, the other one for a spare roll of film, in beautiful condition with black leatherette covering Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Feb 2005 | £480 | Christie's | |
|
Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 179) Title: Petie Vanity set
Description:
Petie Vanity set Estimate: £300 - £500 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kunik Petie Vanity (black leather) worth today?
Auction evidence is limited to a single UK hammer result of £480, so a realistic value in 2026 sits around that figure for a complete, clean example, with incomplete or damaged cases worth materially less.
How much does a Petie Vanity sell for at auction?
The only verified UK auction sale on record fetched £480 at hammer, which remains the main reference price for this black leather variant.
Why does the price vary so much on vanity cameras like this?
Value is driven almost entirely by completeness and cosmetic condition: examples retaining the original mirror, powder and lipstick fittings and unmarked leather command the strongest prices, while stripped or scuffed cases sell for a fraction of that.