A trove of Bakelite jewelry will come up for auction at Bonhams’ Curated Curiosities sale on January 25 in Los Angeles.
From the 1920s-1940s, Bakelite was a popular way to stylishly accessorize a wardrobe, home, or lifestyle and was a popular material of choice for jewelry and fashion designers such as Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli.
Widely collectible and championed for its vintage appeal and bold, colorful, and whimsical aesthetic, the current selection is part of a single-owner collection of design oddities, which includes rare bracelets, brooches, and necklaces that will head to auction.
Highlights include:
- Two rare Bakelite multicolor bracelets, offered with an estimate of $2,000-3,000
- A rare Bakelite raspberry necklace and bracelet set, offered with an estimate of $3,000-5,000
- Two Bakelite necklaces, offered with an estimate of $400-600
- Extremely rare ‘Philadelphia color’ Bakelite bangles, offered with an estimate of $2,000-3,000
