What kind of material are these earrings made of?

[zannew]

Hi,

I am wondering if these earrings are made of a special kind of material other than plastic. Bakelite?
They were in the box when I purchased them but I don't know if that is the original box - I would doubt it.

I have acquired a bit of vintage jewelry and am still learning..

Thank you!

 

[retro ruth]

They look like ceramic to me, but that may just be how they appear on screen.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Could they be acrylic?

 

[retro ruth]

This is the kind of thing I was thinking of.

 

[Madame-Vintage]

Hi,

I am wondering if these earrings are made of a special kind of material other than plastic. Bakelite?
They were in the box when I purchased them but I don't know if that is the original box - I would doubt it.

I have acquired a bit of vintage jewelry and am still learning..

Thank you!

View attachment 29816View attachment 29817View attachment 29818View attachment 29819

Spray a Q-tip with 409 cleaner and swab the back of the material. If it's Bakelite there will be yellow stains on the Q-tip.

 

[zannew]

No, they are definitely like a type of plastic. Is acrylic similar to plastic? I'm familiar with it in yarns and paint but not other types.

 

[zannew]

OK, thank you for that tip. I will try it.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Could be an acrylic resin which is a group of related thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic substances.

If you google acrylic flower earrings you will see some that look similar, of course without handling them I can't say positively that is what they are but that is the impression these gave me.

 

[pinky-a-gogo]

I agree with Linda--celluloid.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

The reason I did not feel they are celluloid is due to the shine, perhaps it is a reflection of the light in the photo. The floral celluloid pieces I have just don't have this much shine to them.

 

[pinky-a-gogo]

It looks like it has a lacquer over them.
I have seen that look on celluloid pieces-unsure if it has a specific name though.

 

[Linn]

I am pretty sure the earrings are made of celluloid acetate.

Linn

 

[BonniesVintageClothesLine]

Linn, I think you are exactly right....celluloid acetate. The earrings look like they are in wonderful condition, too!

 

[BonniesVintageClothesLine]

I've never thought of Vulcanite as looking like the large hoop earrings in your photo. In Victorian jewelry, I haven't seen colors.....with Gutta Percha and Vulcanite it was black, that is unless light gets to it and fades it. Your earrings put me in mind

more of the laminates done by Lea Stein. It's difficult to see some of the pieces in your photo, but the Asian inspired necklace does look like green bakelite....I think I see some mottling in the pieces. Is is signed "Art"? It may not be brass if it is from

the 50s, but a gold plated metal. I know Art did a lot of the Asian inspired pieces....I have a few in my collection. If you could spread the pieces out a bit, it may be easier to see what you have.

 

[zannew]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Bonnie, I believe Linda was referring to the hoop "necklaces" from Africa...one of those is black that could perhaps be vulcanite.
The striped piece are the Brazilian bangle bracelets.

Those also remind me of those wonderful animal figurine pieces by Abraham Palatnik of Brazil.

 

[BonniesVintageClothesLine]

Oh!!! Couldn't really tell by the photos....as I said! I can see that you don't seem to need any information from me.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Thanks for the link, Linda.