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I fell in love with vintage Bakelite jewelry a number of years ago. As I collected a few bangles I also picked up some old unused stock. I had a vague notion of someday using it in my jewelry. That "someday" began in a workshop two years ago. I made a Sterling silver and Bakelite ring... loved the color and excitement the Bakelite added to my design... and I haven't stopped using Bakelite in my jewelry since!
Turn back the calendar to the 1920s, 30s, and 40s... Coco Chanel made Bakelite jewelry, Elsa Schiaparelli made Bakelite buttons, and Cartier made Bakelite watch cases... Saks Fifth Avenue (New York), Harrod's (London), and Bon Marche (Paris) sold Bakelite jewelry and accessories... Josephine Baker commissioned Bakelite gifts for friends... Fred Astaire danced on Bakelite floors... and General Electric made Bakelite radio cases. A revolutionary and versatile new plastic, Bakelite (aka "Catalin") was hailed as "the material of a thousand uses."
Production ceased in the 1960s, leaving behind factories and warehouses full of unused stock. Prime pieces of vintage Bakelite (e.g., jewelry, buttons, napkin rings, radios, even old unused stock) have now become highly sought-after collectibles.
Bakelite was produced in a multitude of opaque, solid, marbled, transparent, translucent and semi-translucent colors. Its colors are rich and deep or fresh and bright, and sometimes intense. It feels warm and is very durable. It can be cut, shaped, carved, and polished to a liquid finish.
In my current work I combine old stock Bakelite with antiqued Sterling silver or gold to create what I call "contemporary heirlooms"... the designs are new, but the Bakelite adds a touch of nostalgia. I may have made a piece just yesterday, yet you can sense in it a bit of history... something old, something new.
Thank you for visiting my Guild webpage. Just click the blue "view gallery" button above or click here to see examples of my work. You can see additional work on my website.
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| photo by Brett Salter |
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| Large Ball in Cage Bracelet |
| Sterling and vintage Bakelite. |
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