VIP Opening Reception of BAKELITE in the Age of Plastics 

On Exhibit from AUGUST 5 - AUGUST 28 

Bakelite, the material of a thousand uses, is probably the most collectible—and valuable—jewelry made of a material which brightened the Great Depression. Coco Chanel featured Bakelite items in her 1920s accessories collection, and the material was praised frequently in Vogue magazine. Kitchenware made with Bakelite, including canisters and tableware, was promoted in the thrift-conscious 1930s as resistant to heat and to chipping. Their appeal to contemporary collectors may lie in Bakelite’s distinctive look, as well as the way they represent a particular era: a time when more and more consumers were able to take advantage of previously out-of-reach fashions and consumer goods. This exhibit features Bakelite items from local collectors, curated by Historian, Darlene Davies.Bakelite.

For Members & Special Guests Only