Jewellery 

Bakelite and other early plastics were very popular during the “Jazz Age”, the 1920s and 30s. Plastic was so much cheaper than gold, silver and coral, and could be mass produced. The new plastic jewellery came on the scene and never disappeared.

In that period, women owned and wore many pieces of plastic jewellery such as bracelets, necklaces, pendants, pins, broches and earrings.  Many famous designers such as Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli inspired the women of that era.  The rise of plastic coincided with the blossoming of the Art Deco style with its angular shapes, bright colors and geometric patterns. Around 1936, two thirds of all costume jewellery was made of bakelite, celluloid and galalith.

Personal Care

Het door de Amerikaan Hyatt in 1868 ontdekte celluloid was crèmewit en kon daardoor allerlei natuurlijke materialen imiteren. Ivoor, schildpad, hoorn, barnsteen, met celluloid waren ze uitstekend na te bootsen. Om die reden werden er al snel allerlei siervoorwerpen van gemaakt.

Imitation tortoise

The pictures include a celluloid shoe brush, and a mechanical hearing aid and a glasses case of imitation tortoise.