Vintage Plastics
© by Sharon Lemell; all rights reserved
Vintage plastics including celluloid, lucite, bakelite kitchenware, flatware, utensils, collectibles and jewelry are being sought after more and more each year. Many people don't realize how many of objects that were in their home when they were growing up were actually made from bakelite and lucite. If you can, have a look around Grandma's or Mom's kitchen and jewelry box. I bet you'll find some wonderful collectible bakelite and other vintage plastics that you never noticed before. Kitchen clocks, that plastic radio that played all the time, the handles of flatware and utensils, egg beaters, ice cream scoopers, the tops of sugar shakers, can openers, pot handles, and so much more were made from bakelite and lucite. Even telephones were made from bakelite. The marriage of bakelite and lucite showed itself in two-tone flatware and costume jewelry and is not limited to solids only. A variety of patterns such as checkerboards, dots, animals, pearlized designs, and end-of-day in a vast array of colors were produced. Spoons with bakelite handles are hardest to find now, since boxed bakelite kitchenware flatware sets were mostly sold with only the forks and knives for picnics and luncheons. Vintage plastics such as bakelite were primarily made to provide the public with less expensive items especially during the hardships of World War II. Incredibly, plastics such as celluloid have been around since the 1800's! Celluloid was invented by John Wesley Hyatt in 1869 and was widely used in1890-1917 all through the Victorian Era, Art Nouveau and parts of the Art Deco period. Because celluloid is highly flammable, it was manufactured for only a limited time, and discontinued until safer plastics had been introduced, making vintage and antique celluloid jewelry highly collectible today. Bakelite, on the other hand, is unmeltable. It is an early polymeric plastic made from a phenol formaldehyde resin invented by Leo Hendrik Baekeland in 1907 while he was trying to invent a varnish. Be gentle with your bakelite pieces and wash them by hand. A dishwashing machine will ruin the finish. Buy vintage plastic items you like, and always buy from reputable and knowledgeable dealers. Be creative with your vintage plastics. You can display your bakelite, celluloid, lucite brooches and jewelry in a lucite box in your livingroom as a conversation piece. Design your kitchen with bakelite utensils, cookware and appliances for a fantastic vintage appearance.
Author Sharon Lemell and her husband Michael invite you to visit their Years After Ruby Lane shop to read and see more about more antique and vintage bakelite kitchenware, plus bakelite, celluloid and lucite jewellery from the Victorian and Art Deco eras through the 1960's. They have been dealing in vintage plastics and other vintage treasures such as jewelry, dolls, and toys for over 20 years.Return to top of Vintage Plastics. Return to Bead and Jewelry Supplies. Return to Home Jewelry Business Success Tips home page.
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