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Bakelite was an early plastic resin, developed by Leo Baekeland in 1907. Originally used for industrial purposes thanks to its ability to withstand heat, molded Bakelite and its cast cousin, Catalin, made the jump to costume jewelry in the 1920s and had their heyday in the 1930s and ’40s.

Costume-jewelry manufacturers were attracted to Bakelite for numerous reasons. First, it w...

Equally appealing was Bakelite’s range of colors, which were given names like Creamed Corn, Butterscotch, Egg Yolk, and Salmon. Some types of Bakelite were marbled—Mississippi Mud, Creamed Spinach, and Chocolate Sundae capture the character of these mixed hues beautifully. Less common was translucent Bakelite in Root Beer, Lime Jell-O, and Cherry Juice.

While some Bakelite costume jewelry was fashioned from solid blocks of a single color, many more began as laminated pieces, in which horizontal or zigzag layers of complementary colors were combined. Sometimes pieces were laminated to create polka dots; other times polka dots were hand painted on an object’s surface, and in the 1950s polka dots and gumdrop shapes were injected into Bakelite during the manufacturing process itself.

Of the brooches and pins, one of the most popular treatments during the Art Deco 1930s was to combine Ebony Bakelite—an imitation of the jet pieces from the Victorian era—with rhinestones or inlaid silver. Egyptian motifs were in vogue, as were pins in the shapes of animals (cats, camels, dogs, birds) and plants, especially flowers and clusters of dangling cherries. Especially collectible are the World War II era MacArthur Hearts, which consisted of a 3-by-3-inch key-shaped pin, from which dangled a puffy red heart with a keyhole in its center—it was sold with a card that read "He holds the key to my heart."

The most famous use of Bakelite in jewelry was as bracelets. Many of these were formed of large, block- or medallion-shaped beads that were strung together on strips of elastic. Other Bakelite bracelets were hinged, carved into the shapes of serpents, or left open at the back so they could be easily slipped onto a wrist. Some bracelets incorporated chrome accents into their designs, others combined Bakelite with Czech glass.

But the most collectible types of Bakelite bangles are the so-called Philadelphia bracelets, which take their name from a Philadelphia auction in 1985 that featured two of these remarkable pieces. Philadelphia bracelets are always laminated in colors that include green, red, and yellow. The best pieces are hinged, and feature either multicolor laminated wedges or individually colored slices that have been glued onto the bracelet body, which is usually a rich shade of Butterscotch.

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Recent News: Bakelite Costume Jewelry

Source: Google News

Jewelry designer Alexis Bittar in expansion mode
Kansas City Star, May 14th

By BOOTH MOORE LOS ANGELES -- Fashion jewelry design is in the midst of a renaissance the likes of which we haven't seen since the 1980s. And Alexis Bittar blazed the trail. In the last two decades, the New York-based jewelry designer has gone from...Read more

Jewelry designer Alexis Bittar in expansion mode
Los Angeles Times (blog), May 11th

The jewelry maker uses innovative materials such as molten metals and Lucite in his designs. Now he's planning a higher-end line in sterling silver and gold. Alexis Bittar has been obsessed with designing jewelry since his parents, who bought and sold...Read more

Spring brings out Alameda Point's Vintage Fashion Faire
Alameda Times-Star, May 3rd

Jewelry lovers will appreciate the Fantasy Jewels collection of Alameda's Louise Champion that includes Mexican sterling, Chinese silver with enamel, Coro duettes and Bakelite pieces. From Victorian through the '80s, there'll be an era for every taste...Read more

Lois Craig, associate dean of MIT's architecture school
Boston.com, May 3rd

He said his mother had “a quirky eye and a design sense for collectibles,'' such as game boards from the 19th century through the present, doorknobs, and Bakelite jewelry. Her marriage to Peter Craig ended in divorce. She later married museum director...Read more

Vintage Bead and Button Trunk Show
San Francisco Chronicle, May 1st

Also vintage costume jewelry, trim, fabric, and much more. This event is a fundraiser for the Frank Bette Center for the Arts in Alameda, a non profit supporting Bay Area artists. Vintage beads...glass, Bakelite, Lucite, celluloid, enamel,...Read more

Aging stylishly, online and in the streets
Fox 31 KDVR.com, April 30th

During a recent Sunday brunch on a patio in the East Village, they dressed in designer vintage, thrift store and sample sale finds with jewelry courtesy of Bakelite and Pylones. A young woman sitting at the next table asked to take their picture for...Read more

Aging stylishly, online and in the streets
CNN International, April 28th

During a recent Sunday brunch on a patio in the East Village, they dressed in designer vintage, thrift store and sample sale finds with jewelry courtesy of Bakelite and Pylones. A young woman sitting at the next table asked to take their picture for...Read more

April 28: Uptown Saturday Night features new art, extended shopping
St. Augustine Record, April 26th

In addition, Royal Doulton Toby Mugs, American art pottery, sterling silver, US coins, estate and contemporary jewelry, cameos, bakelite, Native American turquoise, kitsch, nautical and shipwreck artifacts, and Florida Highwaymen paintings...Read more

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