A designer’s dream material, it was lightweight; could be produced in a huge range of opaque, translucent and transparent forms; could be molded, carved, layered, and painted; and was remarkably easy to curve. Testing: Application of hot water will produce a sour-milk or wet-wool smell. Conversely, modern costume jewelry manufacturers only plate costume jewelry one time, so it is more likely to tarnish quickly and cause irritation to sensitive skin. The following is an introduction to the plastics and an identification guide. Moonglow Lucite comes in a variety of colors, but always has the distinctive shine. This might be responsible for the lack of response to a chemical test. https://www.etsy.com/listing/525325946/antique-ivory-pyralin-belt-french-ivory, How unusual! Swirl effects were common. In answer to your question about site updates, you can “follow” by email if you don’t have a WordPress blog site yourself. Cast-phenolic items were expensive to produce because they could not be molded. This style often comes as earrings or pins. However, its use in larger articles was limited because it cannot be molded; it must be cut or carved, thus its use was effectively restricted to small things like jewelry and buttons rather than, say, boxes, brushes, combs, etc. This is an easily laymen understood analysis and explanation of the various plastics we collectors often come in contact with (to end a sentence with a preposition!). At first glance through the wrinkled, dusty plastic bag, they appeared to be quite similar, despite their varied sizes. You definitely don't want to pay real jewelry prices for fakes, either. In my opinion the primary consideration should be the overall quality of the piece itself, including the condition. If dating is important to you (the age kind, not the social kind!) On second glance, I knew I needed to get my glasses and a better lamp. As Lillian Baker aptly put it in her introduction to ‘Plastic Jewelry of the Twentieth Century’, “unless a piece of jewelry is marked “Bakelite” or “Catalin” or “Celluloid” (or any trademarks cited in the article which is printed in Appendix A), it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the actual product used for jewelry collected today.” (italics mine). Does NOT have mold marks because it could not be molded; thus it can be either solid or laminated but never hollow. You really should write a book. Urea-plastic faux pearls are made in Asia even today. thanks . If it is Lucite, it will have no discernable scent. - Bakelite is a castable, fire resistant plastic that was invented by Leo Baekeland in 1909. Also, the presence of paint or any type of glaze on the surface of the celluloid will act as a barrier to the generation of the camphor smell although not – unfortunately – to deformation by temperature. Trademarked names include: Bakelite C.A. Also, some images in the Operculum Jewelry post show examples with faux-tortoiseshell (plastic) elements in them. If … It is safer to become familiar with the other characteristics of true celluloid than to risk deforming a piece by applying enough heat to generate any odor. If the piece of jewelry in question seems to glow, it is probably vintage "moonglow" Lucite. Tradenames specific to imitation ivory often included that word, such as Ivorine, French Ivory, Ivorie Parisienne, celluloid ivory and vegetable ivory. It could be opaque, translucent or transparent. With plenty of reproductions on the market, it's wise to learn various methods to identify Bakelite rather than finding out afterward that you have made a costly mistake. I find using the Dollar Tree Chrome Polish works to test bakelite, catalin. The size and weight of the items will create a different sound so this method isn't as reliable and should always be used with other tests. ©2015-2020 The Chatsworth Lady , all rights reserved. Understand the sparkle in your hand. It’s important to know different ways to identify Bakelite jewelry, so you don’t find yourself unintentionally purchasing lucite or more common plastic pieces. There were some design challenges too, because it has to be molded rather than cast or carved. You definitely don't want to pay real jewelry prices for fakes, either. Trademarked names for “celluloid” include Amerith, Celluloid, Cinelin, Duralin, Fabrikoid, Fiberloid, Herculoid, Isinglass, Keratol, Nitrol and Nitron, Nixonoid and Nixon CN, Pyralin, Pyroxylin, and Textiloid. Unfortunately this material is super-lightweight and very “cheap” in hand-feel, and because it was also relatively brittle it could not be used for intricate carved-look designs. The formula itself was developed in the very early 1900s and can be subdivided into “molded” and “cast” categories. Study the style of the jewelry. Researching Costume Jewelry (RCJ) is a collaboration of hundreds of costume jewelry collectors and dealers who have shared – and continue to share – their knowledge, photos, written articles, and jewelry catalogs along with assisting in other ways. Excerpts may be used, provided that credit is given to The Chatsworth Lady and/or the cited material is linked to its original content page or to www.chatsworthlady.com . If so, it is probably "confetti" Lucite. Identify the Differences Between Real and Fake Diamonds at Home Before You Buy. Keep in mind that other familiar names like Schreiner, Miriam Haskell and Selro all marketed unsigned pieces. This is when, in the 19th century, jewelers sought to create an imitation, aptly named rhinestones. After that, you’ll receive an email notification whenever a new post is added to the site. None of the phenolics could be made in plain white. Findings in modern plastic are typically cast into the jewelry as it is being poured or glued on later. Polished Bakelite will leave a yellow residue on the cloth regardless of what color the Bakelite is. Unfortunately I sold off about 150 lucite purses in the early days of eBay because I was having such problems with them decaying, Especially the tortoise colored ones. Hold the pearls in your hand. Lucite itself was developed in the mid-late 1930s by Dupont and was first advertised as such in June 1937. now days with the Internet there is so much information to find and learn about! So if it’s ‘Pyralin’ it isn’t French; actually there was only one French manufacturer of note. Sad to say, no matter how hard I try to make this black bracelet test as bakelite, it just refuses. My willingness to pay X amount of dollars for any of them would be influenced at least in part by my expectation of what condition it should be in, given its material + age. However, if sufficient heat is applied to any part of it – and that could be as high a temperature as boiling water or as low as 140F from tap water or being left in the sun – it will soften again. One reason I decided against photo examples was that it might cause additional confusion if someone were to assume that every similar piece was a particular material: For example, that because a brooch is a certain shade of green it is galalith rather than something else; or that other examples of cellulose nitrate can’t look entirely different. designating cellulose acetate), Cinelin, Clearsite, gemloid, joda c/a, Lumarith, macite, midlon a, nixonite and nixon c.a., Plastacele, pyra-shell, Tec, Tenite, and vuepak. 409 -an all purpose household cleaner, used the same way as Simichrome. 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