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Bakelite Jewelry
Invented by Dr. Leo Baekeland in 1910 as a shellac for bowling alleys, Bakelite in its hardened form was used in a wide variety of consumer items during the 1920s and 1930s: Buttons, billiard balls, serving trays, napkin holders, salt-and-pepper shakers, radios, pipe stems, and handles for kitchen tools all were made from the durable resin. But it was the colorful, inexpensive Bakelite jewelry that caught the fancy of women during the bleak Depression years.
Today, collectors who prize old Bakelite jewelry are charmed by its time-muted colors: blues darkened into soft black, whites aged into the mellow butterscotch we recognize so readily. Originally, Bakelite jewelry gained prominence not only because of its low cost (from a few cents to a few dollars), but also because of its light weight and its ability to simulate ivory and amber. Produced in more than 200 colors during its heyday, Bakelite was favored by fashion designers because it was easily molded and not flammable like its predecessor, celluloid.
There is imitation Bakelite jewelry on the market. To test to determine authenticity that your piece is Bakelite and not a later imitation, rub the piece rapidly against a soft cloth, then bring it to your nose. You should get a whiff of formaldehyde, one of Bakelite’s chief components. (The other is carbolic acid.)
Do you have another way to tell if the jewelry is really Bakelite? Let us know! We also want to hear about where you have found the best jewelry.
Today, collectors who prize old Bakelite jewelry are charmed by its time-muted colors: blues darkened into soft black, whites aged into the mellow butterscotch we recognize so readily. Originally, Bakelite jewelry gained prominence not only because of its low cost (from a few cents to a few dollars), but also because of its light weight and its ability to simulate ivory and amber. Produced in more than 200 colors during its heyday, Bakelite was favored by fashion designers because it was easily molded and not flammable like its predecessor, celluloid.
There is imitation Bakelite jewelry on the market. To test to determine authenticity that your piece is Bakelite and not a later imitation, rub the piece rapidly against a soft cloth, then bring it to your nose. You should get a whiff of formaldehyde, one of Bakelite’s chief components. (The other is carbolic acid.)
Do you have another way to tell if the jewelry is really Bakelite? Let us know! We also want to hear about where you have found the best jewelry.
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Latest page update: made by
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, May 24 2007, 12:07 PM EDT
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| Anonymous | Jewelry Factory | 0 | Jul 23 2009, 11:31 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||
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Thread started: Jul 23 2009, 11:31 PM EDT
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www.jewelrykw.com
Dear Sir: We know that your company is specialized in jewelry business and now writing to you for the establishment of business relations. Kingwin Jewelry Co.,Ltd is an experienced jewelry manufacturer and exporter.The main products are sterling silver jewelry setting with CZ stones and semi-precious stones. Kindly please visit www.jewelrykw.com to get more information about our products. Should,by chance,your corporation not deal with the import of the goods mentioned above,we should be most grateful if this letter could be forwarded to the correct import corporation. We hope this offer will be of interest to you and look forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards. Terry (Sales Dept.) Kingwin jewelry Co.,Ltd Tel: 86 20 6196 8878 Fax:86 20 6196 8877 Email:sales@jewelrykw.com Web:www.jewelrykw.com |
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| Anonymous | testing bakelite | 2 | Apr 1 2009, 8:01 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||
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Thread started: Oct 1 2007, 11:23 AM EDT
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Simichrome metal polish works too. Put a little on a q-tip and rub it on the item in question. If it is bakelite it will turn a deep yellow, like a cigerette butt.
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Showing 2 of 2 threads for this page
