Sweater age and Bakelite?

[Vintage_Visage]

Good evening all,

So I am unsure of the age on this sweater? I feel like it is 40s, am I wrong here? Do I need better photos? Also how can I tell if the buttons are Bakelite? I am pretty sure they are as they sound and feel different the regular plastic buttons but I don't handle Bakelite often or intentionally? I don’t know to describe it but it’s odd. One has an ever so small chip in it and it looks the way glass chips off.

Thank you all!

 

[Linn]

I think the photo has to be larger to really see what the sweater and the buttons look like. That said - to test for Bakelite, rub the button hard until it is hot and then "sniff" it. Bakelite has a distinctive chemical smell (carbolic acid) and once you know the smell you will be able to tell. I don't think a chip in plastic looks the same as glass but I doubt the buttons are glass.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi,

What a pretty sweater! I love the color. I agree it is not easy to give too much opinion from your photos, they are a bit small to see any details. It looks to be possibly a home knit sweater, much like what they call a lace-knit (not to be confused with knit lace), and closely matches some of the late 1940s to early 1950s styles I have seen in my old knitting mags. The large and spaced-out buttons have a circa 1950 vibe to me also. Can you determine the fiber...wool, cotton, synthetic, blend, etc? That might give a clue as to the date.

 

[Vintage_Visage]

Thank you, I will put some better sized photos (I was trying to keep them small) and I will take a better look at the fibers, I think wool but I need to make sure.