?Plastic? objects are part of our history. These items represent a significant example of Americana. The Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art and the Philadelphia Museum all include ?plastics? in their collections.
You do not have to go to a museum to enjoy seeing and collecting ?plastic? items. The primary goal of the new movement, in the 1930?s and 40?s, was to provide less expensive, decorative, and useful items in the home, using machines to create and service the large population.
It created an enormous variety of both functional and decorative high and low cost objects for the home which are sought after by collectors today. Antique plastic is not a contradiction of terms ? plastics have been around in syntheticc form for well over 100 years making them a true antique.
BAKELITE was developed by Dr. Leo Baekeland in 1907 and was originally intended as an insulator for electricity, and is not quite 100 years old. Besides Bakelite jewelry, Bakelite has brought us items such as radios, kitchenware, flatware, clocks, Bakelite handled utensils, telephones, salt and pepper shakers, etc. The list of items boggle the mind and keeps increasing the pleasure it brings to the collector of any or all of the above.
When to decide to collect Bakelite? Colors, design and style are no doubt what will attract you initially. The broad pallet of Bakelite enables today?s collector to enjoy both nostalgia and utility. For example, your eeye catches a set of red plastic canisters ? and it becomes a ?look? in your kitchen, which can be followed for a search for a set of Bakelite Flatware for your dining experience. Above all, you are buying what you like and at the same time buying items of value. The value increases as authentic examples of an era diminish in supply. Collecting is a tangible, you had fun finding it and have the pleasure of the item in your home.
