Vintage Find - Chunky Hearts Bakelite Necklace (Debutante Clothing

Debutante Clothing :: The DebLog

April 28, 2008

Vintage Find - Chunky Hearts Bakelite Necklace

I was so thrilled when I saw models walking down the runway dripping with chunky, bold plastic accessories at shows like Yves Saint Laurent and Phillip Lim. I anticipate that chunky plastic jewelery will be as big a hit in 2008 as it was in the '20s and '30s.

Chunky, clunky and beautiful plastic necklaces and bangles are the accessories of choice for Art Deco lovers. We can thank Leo H. Baekeland for creating the wonder plastic that was used in everything from radios to billiard balls. After the Depression (or "Economic Slow Down") women who wanted to cheer up an outfit wore inexpensive, but beautiful Bakelite jewelry. And the pretty little plastic baubles caught on - even rich ladies wanted an arm full of colorful bangles.

Bakelite jewelry seems to only go up in price and you can still find it at thrift stores, which goes to show how resilient the plastic is. I just found a butterscotch swirled bangle with an embedded serpentine metal ring. Score!

The vintage find for this week is a gorgeous set of butterscotch and caramel Bakelite necklace and earrings. The tortoiseshell like hearts really take this necklace the realm of fashion versus collectible. And at only $200 for the set, it's a steal!