People describe it as happy. Cheery. Whimsical. Bakelite fans say they feel better just looking at a piece of the jewelry. Dealer, expert and author Karima Parry calls it "an antidepressant." There is ...

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts. Bakelite jewelry was one of the only affordable accessories for women ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A new class of Bakelite collectors is emerging, and it’s hardly the swap-meet set. The spoils: a bangle ...

Created more than a century ago, bakelite is a completely synthetic plastic material used in industrial and commercial products. Because it doesn’t contain petroleum, it can’t be melted or recycled.

Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: Bakelite was one of the first synthetic plastics, used originally ...

The latest Depression-era item to turn ”collectible” is Bakelite jewelry, which may be worth 100 times what it cost in the 1930s. Bakelite costume jewelry that sold for anywhere from a few cents to a ...

I bought a wooden night table at an auction years ago. It’s a 1950s style, but the finish is reddish brown, not blond. The single drawer in the stand is marked “Heywood-Wakefield” within a circle.

My parents began giving me antique jewelry when I was a girl. Our family had a friend who was an antiques dealer, and Mrs. Carlson's store had a pirate's booty of Victorian seed-pearl and garnet ...

A new class of Bakelite collectors is emerging, and it’s hardly the swap-meet set. The spoils: a bangle or three with inlaid geometrics, perhaps a marbled ring with bursts of bezel-set gemstones. That ...