Vintage Bakelite Jewelry

Did you know that some plastic costume jewelry can be worth thousands of dollars? That's right, I said thousands of dollars. Check out the article below to learn how to spot this fabulous vintage costume jewelry that can still be found in antique stores to church sales.

What is Bakelite?

by Carly Wickell

Bakelite is a castable, fire resistant plastic that was invented by Leo Baekeland in 1909. It was originally used for industrial purposes, until jewelry makers found that its light weight made Bakelite a perfect choice for designing and manufacturing inexpensive bracelets, rings, pins and other jewelry.

Bakelite jewelry became especially popular in the 1930's and 1940's, after a wider assortment of colors was introduced. The new batch of Bakelite colors captured the imagination of more and more jewelry companies. Coco Chanel was one famous designer who offered Bakelite jewelry and accessories.

Do Other Materials Look Like Bakelite?

Bakelite is the trade name for the plastic product produced by the Bakelite Corporation, but materials made using the same formula were eventually sold under other trade names in the US and around the world. Celluloid and lucite are two other plastics used to make jewelry. They can resemble Bakelite, but Bakelite items of the same size are heavier.

How Can I Tell if My Jewelry is Genuine Bakelite?

Method #1: Some Bakelite collectors recommend the 409 Test. Here's how to do it:

Dip a cotton swab in 409 household cleaner and touch a small area of the piece, such as a back that won't be visible when worn. If the piece is vintage Bakelite, the accumulated patina will show up as a yellow stain on the cotton swab. Rinse the cleaner off the tested spot right away.

Method #2: Some collectors recommend you place the jewelry in hot water, then remove and sniff. Warmed Bakelite smells like camphor.

Are There Bakelite Imitations?

Yes, there are newly manufactured imitations out there, so beware. Linda Grossman, of Evelynne's Oldies But Goodies1, deals in vintage Bakelite and other collectible jewelry. Here's what she has to say about the fakes:

"We are dismayed that there is a cottage industry that has been created with the production of Fakelite, which has the appearance of Bakelite. On close examination, and to the trained eye, these items are not vintage Bakelite, but sometimes they have been treated in ways to make them pass the commonly used Bakelite tests (409 and hot water). We recommend that you purchase Bakelite only from a reputable, experienced dealer."

Sometimes Bakelite is New and Old

Some jewelry makers are creating new Bakelite jewelry out of larger pieces of vintage Bakelite, such as radios, which were very popular during Bakelite's heyday. Some of the pieces are quite attractive, and most of these craftspeople are honest about the jewelry's origins. If you pass the jewelry on to someone else, please be sure they know it is a newly handcrafted item made from vintage Bakelite.

How Much is Bakelite Jewelry Worth?

It depends on the piece, and the demand for specific collectibles is an everchanging thing. Search for Bakelite on ebay to get an idea of current pricing. Read the descriptions carefully--some are fakes. Don't be afraid to ask the seller for verification that the piece is truly Bakelite, and always check a seller's feedback rating before you bid.

Recently sold on eBay for $769.99

How Does an Antique Picker Spend a Workday?

I still stop at yard sales and keep an eye out for treasures on the side of the road. My most recent roadside find was a Kazak rug admittedly in rough condition. It needed cleaning and a bit of repair but it still brought me $240 after a bit of haggling with the rug dealer. Anywho, the article below will tell you about how someone might break into the buying and selling biz to make some extra cash...or even start a very fun  and profitable primary or side business.

By Linda Johnson, eHow Contributor

A Picker's Picks

An antique picker like Joe picks up antiques and old stuff wherever he can find it. He's the guy in the station wagon or pickup cruising the curbs on trash day, or doing some "alley picking" in old neighborhoods. He goes to flea markets, garage sales and auctions, too. He also checks out the ads in the paper, looking for antique sale items. He has a good eye, and knows how to buy things right, so he can sell them for more to the antique dealers he knows.

Joe Is on the Lookout for Treasures in Trash

Joe is doing some curb cruising and alley-picking today. He keeps an eye peeled for an assortment of stuff at the curb that indicates somebody might be moving. If he finds a treasure-trove outside your house, he might just knock on your door and ask if there is anything else you want to get rid of. If you advertise a garage sale and list "collectibles," he will probably show up.

Antique Shops Are on the Lookout for Joe

Antique dealers cannot always take time to go to auctions and sales. Or maybe they don't have a truck they can haul something big in. That's where Joe comes in. He is always out looking for good picks, and he knows which dealers are interested in what antiques. He brings his finds to antique shops and sells them at a profit because he knows what things are worth and what the traffic will bear. Without Joe, his antique dealers would be short on merchandise to sell.

Joe Develops Niches

Joe may have started out with $5 and a junk car, but over the years, he has become a specialist. That's why you'll see him at estate sales. He knows where to find the antiques he is most knowledgeable about. That royal blue Depression glass you see comes and goes in favor with antique aficionados. When it's out of favor, Joe buys it and holds it until it's popular again. He is also somewhat of an expert on old oak furniture. If he finds out you have an old oak secretary or icebox, he will want to buy it from you. Be prepared to come down in price, because shrewd haggling keeps Joe in business.

Advice from Joe

Joe would tell you that his success as a picker comes from his good eye and reputation. He goes around to antique shops, making a note of the kind of inventory they keep. He is good at small talk, and soon has dealers telling stories. He finds out how knowledgeable they are and how much they like to pay.The next time that dealer sees him, Joe will have something to offer that the dealer wants, and at a fair price.

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Howard's Vegetable Cancer and Canker Syrup Bottle 

Sold for $: (guess before you read below)

Old glass bottles can be found anywhere. Basements, cellar holes, old dumps, in the ground. Some are worth a ton of money. The photo is one sold by my friend Norm, ebay user name "bertaneye". His wife found it under a barn floor board shortly after moving into their new place in Essex, MA. He being a great ebayer thought it might bring a couple hundred dollars. Boy were they surprised when it sold for $10,901 on eBay. So the moral of the story is...if you don't know for sure, get it checked out. You just never know!

The Matchsafe...or Vesta

Match holders, also known as matchsafes or vesta cases, date to the mid-19th century, when friction matches were first introduced. While a boon to cigar-puffing fat cats and homemakers alike, early friction matches, which were also called vestas and Lucifers, almost did their job too well, sometimes bursting into flame in a user’s pocket. Matchsafes keep these hair-trigger fire sticks from rubbing together and combusting prematurely.

The golden age of matchsafes was around 1870 until the 1930s, when matchbooks and cigarette lighters obviated the need for most match holders. At home, wall and tabletop matchsafes were used, primarily by women for domestic uses such as lighting a stove. In fact, stove manufacturers often made cast-iron match holders, which were mounted to a wall in the kitchen to keep the matches handy. Other wall-mounted matchsafes were made of tin and featured lithographed advertisements for everything from soda pop to whiskey to sliced bread.

In the late 1900s, men carried matchsafes in their coat pockets. These accessories were often more ornately decorated than their pocket watches or their wives’ jewelry. Many were made of sterling silver, embossed or engraved with images of people smoking or abstract patterns resembling smoke. Others were wrought of gold and inlaid with enamel scenes or decorations, and a few matchsafes were carved from antler or ivory.

By the turn of the century, it was becoming more permissible for women to smoke in public, so matchsafes designed for this expanding new market came to the fore. The New York jeweler Tiffany & Company sold sterling silver matchsafes accented with copper and brass and decorated in the Art Nouveau style. Gorham, Bristol, and Whiting are among the many American silver manufacturers that produced matchsafes, while Cartier and Fabergé exported their products from overseas.

Beyond rectangles and ovals, whose lengths conformed nicely to the shapes of friction matches, matchesafes were made in the shapes of animals, shoes, boots, and even body parts, resembling charms on a bracelet. Other matchsafes were treated like canvases for tiny sporting, rural, or city scenes, rendered in warm, inviting enamels.

One category of matchsafes that also appeals to those who collect Asian antiques includes pieces in copper, lacquered metal, and brass that were made in China and Japan. These handsome objects were decorated withdragons, buddhas, and geishas, as well as bamboo foliage and other nature motifs.

Perhaps the most prevalent of all matchsafes were those used to carry advertising or commemorate a noteworthy event. Matchsafes invited their holders to use certain lawn mowers, wear particular brands of hats, and drink this or that brand of tea. Naturally many promoted cigars and cigarettes, as well as international expositions and world’s fairs.