|  | | | Vintage Kaleidoscope | | | Maintained by: | | If you share my love of rescuing vintage treasures, you have come to the right place. I offer a wide variety of vintage jewelry, including Victorian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Bakelite, Designer Rhinestones, Cufflinks, Retro, Boho, Mod, Mid-Century, Modernist, Sterling, Mexican Silver | |
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[zipedit] Do you like your vintage jewelry quirky, elegant, playful or dazzling? I
have a large selection of all types of antique and vintage jewelry and
add more inventory often. I have done the legwork for you, and with a click of a button you can accessorize your wardrobe to match your personality or find a personalized gift for someone special.
Visit my storefront for a more in-depth look at my varied inventory, or browse the categories to the left.
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 | | Store home - Sets, Parures, Demis (97)
- Sterling, 800 Silver or Copper (150)
- Necklaces, Pendants (192)
- Bracelets (59)
- Brooches, Pins, Clips, Buckles (248)
- Designer or Signed Jewelry (232)
- Rings (29)
- Earrings (108)
- Jewelry-Gold-Cameo- Gems-Pearl (5)
- Unsigned Jewelry by Style (336)
- Art Deco, Period or Revival (17)
- Art Nouveau or Edwardian (11)
- Bakelite, Lucite, Celluloid, (89)
- Charms, Lockets, Names (9)
- Damascene, Toledoware (4)
- Enamel, Painted, Transfer (30)
- Glass Beads, Faux Pearls, Bead (44)
- Goldtone or Silvertone Classic (3)
- Holiday, Christmas (1)
- Mod, Modernist, Mid Century (5)
- NA, Mexican (Non-sterling) (1)
- Patriotic, Military (2)
- Rhinestones, Figural or Flower (15)
- Rhinestones, Other (45)
- Stones or Natural Materials (9)
- Tribal, Chunky, Boho (13)
- Victorian, Period or Revival (38)
- Fraternal, Military, Service (8)
- Cufflinks, Tie Pins, Men's (19)
- Accessories (20)
- Vintage accessories (9)
- Vintage knick knacks (2)
- Vintage Paper/Ephemera (1)
- Collectibles (9)
- Other (7)
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| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bakelite and Early Plastic Jewelry
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| I aim to deliver 5 star service and make your shopping experience pleasurable. I strive to describe accurately, ship promptly, package safely and communicate efficiently.
I add new treasures weekly, so check back often or add me to your list of favorite sellers. If you are searching for something in particular, feel free to ask me. I just might have it.
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Plastic is like other materials in the sense that "they don't make things like they used to". Earlier
plastics had different formulas than the plastics of today (some of
them not all that safe) and many were discovered accidentally.
FYI, don't use acetone to clean up the old glue residue that is common on some types of plastic. It can make the plastic melt (Don't ask me how I know...)
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Bakelite is an early to mid-20th century heavy, creamy early plastic that was used for radios, jewelry and telephones among other things. In the case of jewelry it was usually cast in thick tubes or rods and then deeply carved. Bakelite ages well if cared for properly. It does not develop those pesky white mold lines evident in other plastics. It does though develop a rich patina over time, which adds to its character.
Because of the patination, you will not find white or brightly colored Bakelite such as pink, aqua or bright yellow. The color can be solid, marbled with 2 or more colors, or translucent (Prystal).
Sadly, there are recent Chinese fakes, we call Fakelite. Genuine Bakelite also has a strong smell of formaldehyde when rubbed briskly (I embarass my kids when I "sniff" jewelry in public). The smell is also evident when held under warm water, but I don't test this way unless I am positive it is not a different plastic that might be damaged by water. With genuine Bakelite, the smell will be there every time you test it and cannot be washed off.
Another way to test Bakelite is to gently rub a small amount of Simichrome polish into the piece. The q-tip or cloth will turn a yellowish-orange color if Bakelite. Of course, the item has to be clean in order for the test to be accurate. Not only does the hot-pin test damage your item, other plastics can be flammable so it is not safe. I never use this method of identificaftion.
Cherry-amber colored Bakelite beads are quite collectible, as well as wide bracelets.
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Some "plastics" are natural. Gutta percha is the natural latex sap from a tree indigenous to Southeast Asia (Mostly Malaysia) and part of Australia.
This was used to insulate telegraph wires in the mid-19th century.
It was poured into molds and used for furniture, Victorian Mourning jewelry and walking canes, among other things.
It is also used in dentistry.
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Created accidentally by Charles Goodyear in the mid 19th century, Vulcanite was made by adding sulfur to Indian rubber tree sap.
This material can be polished and molded or carved.
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Celluloid use in jewelry was mainly early 20th century. Pieces are lightweight and were molded.
Celluloid is flammable, and doesn't age as well as Bakelite in some cases. It needs to be kept away from heat, moisture, cosmetics, perfumes and air-tight storage.
Celluloid was often painted and figurals can be quite playful, quirky or romantic.
And you will find some celluloid adorned with rhinestones.
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Galalith was produced in sheets and could not be molded. It was carved and painted you can see several necklaces and a pair of earrings on this page for examples.
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There were many similair, but slightly different types of plastic made in the mid-twentieth century.
Lucite has become a blanket term used by many sellers and collectors for an acrylic type of plastic.
It is weightier than celluloid. It can encase treasures, such as seashells or pieces of confetti. It can also be carved or reverse-carved and painted.
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There were so many different types of plastics formulas, that sometimes you just have to say "early plastic" in your description because you really have no idea what type it is.
And then you have the thermoset vs thermoplastic terminology.
All of these terms can make it hard to search the sea of vintage jewelry, because you can't be sure what term the seller will use.
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Plastics were used in belts, necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets, fur and dress clips, rings and purses.
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