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B is for Bakelite

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I love bakelite. I started collecting it back when I was living in Boston. I had begun to collect the original Fiesta pottery and bakelite flatware went perfectly with it. Eventually, I amassed quite a collection of Fiesta, which I later sold. But I kept the bakelite utensils.

Bakelite was invented by Leo Baekeland, a Belgian chemist, in Yonkers, NY (not too far from MHC.)  In 1909, he patented a phenolic resin that was used in industrial applications. It eventually entered the consumer market and was used in radios, pool balls, jewelry, flatware, kitchenware –  all sorts of decorative applications.

I love the way the colors get richer with time. If I see something with even a touch of bakelite, I’m all over it.

The vintage flour canister was a retro red that I liked, but what sealed the deal was the bakelite handle. The shape and color are fabulous. The vintage napkin ring is the same color except for that wonderful green beak. Bakelite was really popular in the 1920’s and 30’s and you can see that in the deco design of both pieces.

I have a lot of flatware that I keep in an old Harlequin jug. These colors make me happy.

These pieces are in the same color family as the napkin ring and the canister handle.
Most of these handles are a dark green.
The two spoons at the bottom of the photo are red, although it’s hard to see that in this photo.
These are my favorites. I love that two-tone look.
I also have this large kitchen knife and even use it occasionally.
You’ve seen these before. The mah-jongg tiles are also made of bakelite.
I have a bangle bracelet somewhere in a wonderful blue color. And I have a sneaking suspicion that there is more bakelite around here that I am forgetting about…but that can be another post. I’d love to know if any of you have bakelite pieces?

Comments

  1. I don’t own any pieces but have always eye-balled the pieces when I’ve run across them. I believe they also did lots of bracelets and at one time they were quite expensive to collect when they were all the rage. Perhaps they still are.

    Di

  2. Hi Claudia,

    I have nothing…….yet! My mom has some bakelite, only I’m gonna’ have to fight my sisters over it some day. There’s this one serving spoon with a fluted red bakelite handle that we all swear is the perfect “potato salad” spoon. Every time my mom makes potato salad, it comes out perfect tasting, but all the credit goes to the spoon that mixed it……silly isn’t it?

    Hugs,
    Meri

  3. I love your collection Claudia of Bakelite! It is very colorful and beautiful. I also do not have one piece of it!!! I must keep an eye out for it! I know it is quite popular, so I hope there is a piece of it out there! LOL! Have a wonderful day sweet friend!

    Love,
    Maryjane

  4. Wonderful pieces Claudia! When I was on vacation I saw quite a few Bakelite pieces in an antique mall that I really liked but they were very pricey so I did not buy any. TFS, Nan

  7. Hi! I do not own any bakelite, but sure do remember seeing some around as a child, I know I had a white bracelet at sometime when I was a child but back then,,,,,,,well I thought it was just plastic…and did not hang on to it. Kicking myself….who ever knows what things will become “treasures”. It is so funny to come to the age where most of the things from your childhood are now sought after at antique stores!! I keep thinking that is not old enough to be an anitique…then I start counting.
    Thanks for sharing your pictures!

    Sherry

  8. Love your wonderful bakelite collection, Claudia. I have a few pieces of bakelite jewelry from my husband’s grandmother that I cherish.

    Hope you’re having a lovely day.
    xo
    ~Molly

  10. Your post with Bakelite makes me happy, Claudia.
    I have no flatware, but I do have a Bakelite telephone on my vintage vanity, a lovely pale jade-colored bead necklace of my Grandmother’s, several buckles and three pool [or billard] balls.
    I love these pieces.

    Hugs & ♥♥♥s,
    Gerry

  11. Well, I had no idea there was a substance called Bakelite. I love the colors of the flatware. I’ll keep my eyes open the next time I go antiquing! Hope all is well with you!

  12. Hi Claudia, Joe had a few pieces of Bakelite silverware when we got married. Your collection is smashing. I did not notice the little green beak on the napkin ring but it is just darling. hugs♥O

  14. I love that bird napkin ring!! I am new to all this collecting/appreciating/vintage/why -did- my -mother -get- rid -of -these -things world. I remember bakelite in my childhood. We had steak knives made of them. I still have one box waaaaaaaay up in the attic of my parent’s things that I haven’t had the heart to go through. I’m hoping to find many things that bring back the memories of them. Including those bakelite knives. I know there is Russell Wright dinnerware up there- I’m getting better at this.

    Best thing about it all – when I go into the shops or see things on the blogs, such as yours, the memories just come back and that is so special.

  15. It looks like I am in good company I too adore bakelite but owning any isn’t in budget for now. I also wanted to say thank you for the encouraging post on my fledging blog.

    cyn

  16. Hi Claudia! I don’t have any but boy oh boy did I sell a lot on Ebay years ago! Wish I knew then what I know now! You are so lucky to have all that beautiful stuff….I love all of it! The colors are gorgeous.

  17. I do! I had flat wear the yellow/gold color. But I sold it, I kept my red though! I have 4 complete place settings that are almost the same ;) I love Bakelite, it is just so great and retro!! And kitchen anything is my weakness! I have Fiesta ware too but I bought new and use it as my dishes, I love it!! So me:)
    Thanks for sharing your collection!
    Hugs, Lisa

  18. hi Claudia, I have a few pins of my grandma’s in bakelite but after seeing your lovely flatwear, I am going to keep my eye out. Its just lovely-the colors are so rich
    -stacy

  19. I don’t have one piece, I reckon. I know it’s very popular, but I don’t know if I’d know it if I saw it. Does it have Bakelite written on the pieces? I love the silverware.
    Brenda

  20. I love bakelite! I do not have any pieces personally though, but we do have some fun things at the shop! There is a set of bakelite buttons that one of our customers wants me to make into cufflinks…they would be awesome!!!

  21. Your bakelite pieces are all so wonderful. I especially love that little birdie napkin ring! I konw an antique store that has several wonderful pieces and I look at them every time I go. But in the end the price makes me walk away. (I don’t need any more collections anyway, do I?)

  23. What a great collection. I’ve seen a lot of Bakelite jewelry but not the silverware. And of course the bird napkin ring is the prize. And is that a McCoy flower pot I spy?

  25. I love bakelite. I think that I have one piece of it. I’m not sure, but I think that an old RCA Victor 45 rpm record player is housed in bakelite. I’ll have to send you a pic of it. Maybe you can determine if it is in fact bakelite. I love your bakelite pieces, especially those mah-jongg tiles! Do you play?

    Lots of love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

  26. Hello Claudia,
    I don’t have any bakelite that I know of. I have seen it from time to time. It seems to be pricey.
    Your pieces are fab colors. I especially love the red handled spoons. Love that red!
    Hugs,

    Terri

  27. Loved hearing the history of Bakelite. Your utensils are wonderful! The jewelry has always drawn me, but it’s getting harder to find. Hope you’re having a great week, Claudia,
    xo,
    Debra

  30. I don’t have any either, but I think that is soo beautiful. I see a dealer in Admastown that has a case-full of it. You’re pieces are great!

    Leann

  31. Hi Claudia!
    I don’t own any bakelite pieces but I know that it goes out of the shop as fast as it comes in!
    I love the napkin ring and all of your serving pieces.
    It does get prettier with time.

    hugs
    Sissie

  32. i think that i have fallen in love with bakelite. i love the look. i have seen it in antique stores but never knew anything about it. thanks for the information. you do have some fabulous collections.

    enjoy your evening…

    the fog is rolling in this evening in San Francisco. love it!

  34. I had no idea Bakelite was invented in New York. The last house I bought in England was full of it…all the door handles, outlet covers, light switches etc.

    The house hadn’t been touched in 70 years so all the fixtures etc were original. Worth some money as well…kept having people try and buy it from us.

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