Uploads from galessa's plastics

Bakelite Kokeshi Doll/Container, 1960s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:24 -0800

This gorgeous hand-painted black bakelite object is a small lidded container for food mimicking the traditional wooden Kokeshi dolls. Two other shape variants have been seen. Unmarked, it wade in Japan and it looks very much like the 1960s.
It is 10,5cm high.

Goyana Tea Cups, early 1960s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:10 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

These cups were produced as early as 1962 by Goyana, a Brazilian melamineware brand. This same cup design was produced with a variety of applied decorative patterns. This delicate flower pattern echoes American melamineware motives of the 1950s; Goyana was to take on bolder decorations along the 1960s, many produced by famous Brazilian artists of the period, with a strong Brazilian character.

Acetate Bangles, 1930s/1960s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:03 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Cellulose Acetate (aka Acetate) is, like Celluloid, a semi-synthetic plastic based on natural polymer cellulose, obtained from wood or cotton. This material was a technical evolution on Celluloid, that was too flammable. These bangles show a variety of production techniques, like lamination of different colors and patterns, slicing in different angles to obtain varied patterns, lathe turning and machining, compression molding and cutting. All these processes were very much manufactured, that is, made in great part by hand. Cellulose acetate plastics were also suitable to automatic production in huge quantities by the process of injection molding, resulting in objects that lack this crafts like quality.

Queen Victoria's Vesta matchbox, 1897

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:06:42 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This Vesta matchbox was made in England to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee in 1897. It is marked "VR" for Victoria Regina, Queen Victoria in Latin. It was made of Vulcanite (aka Ebonite), natural rubber made a hard and dark plastic by the process of vulcanization developed by Goodyear from around 1839.
The flower and plant symbolisms are present here like in the letter opener you see near here and the mourning brooch posted before. I can identify Mistletoe for affection, Sugar cane(?), Clover for good luck, Roses for Love or Mourning. Can you help identify these plants and decipher their meanings?
The box is 5cm high.

Belmont Radio Model 6D120, 1947

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:06:41 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This striking streamlined radio was made by Belmont in USA, but its Bakelite cabinet was not exclusive; small radio makers would buy ready-made cabinets from molders to fit their electronics, so you can find this same design used by other brands. Accordingly, the logo is not molded, but a decal. The cabinet is pressure molded brown Bakelite sprayed cream. This was a cheap way of producing colored radios since Plaskon, the alternative colored plastic at hand those days, was more expensive. There are other plastics present here: Celluloid for the dial scale and lens, Cellulose Acetate for the push buttons and small knob (darkened) and Plaskon for the big tuning knob.
It is 30cm wide.

Letter Opener, 19th century

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:06:03 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This beautiful Victorian object is a letter opener or a page turner. It was made of Vulcanite (aka Ebonite); natural rubber made a hard and dark plastic by the process of vulcanization developed by Goodyear from around 1839.
The molded flower motifs were full of symbolisms in the 19th century. The central Poppy could mean Imagination or Wealth. Can you help identify these flowers and decipher their meanings? Most are European and not common here in the tropics.
It is about 20cm long.

Historicist Deco Jewelry Box, 1936

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:31:38 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This striking box is an Art Deco jewel itself. Art Deco designers could celebrate the machine age and favor related themes like the city, the automobile, electricity and other modern issues or could go Historicist and search for inspiration in ancient times, in civilizations whose art would fit the geometric and stylized lines they also favored. In this piece we can see a few easily recognizable sources: the lion, the palm trees and the horse's head were taken quite literally from Assyrian reliefs, while the horse's body resemble the ones in the Parthenon's marbles, all of them just there in the British Museum. The warrior is definitely not Assyrian, but freely Greek. This box was made in England by Birkbys under the brand Elo Ware in black and white compression molded Plaskon (urea formaldehyde) plastic. It can be found with a hinged lid.
It is about 17cm wide.

Thermos Jug, 1930s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:31:09 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This elegant jug is marked "Thermos (1925) Limited – London", but patents for the vacuum system design were registered in 1930. 1925 is possibly the year the American Thermos Bottle company was established in UK. It was molded from Plaskon (urea formaldehyde) plastic, with metallic handle. Thermos produced a number of amazing designs.
It is 24,5cm high.

juliensart made me a nice Happy New Year card with a dark mottled bakelite one, to die for!

Melissa "Karim Rashid High", 2005

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:30:47 -0800

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Melissa is a Brazilian brand of plastic shoes that is known worldwide. They have produced an astounding variety of designs since the late 1970s, including the ones by famous designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Zaha Hadid, J. Maskrey and Campana Brothers, among others. Anglo-Egyptian designer Karim Rashid has contributed with some. This shoe is strikingly sensuous, playing with curves and sharp edges, glossy and textured surfaces. Made of injected Vinyl plastic like most of Melissa's products. Originally released in 2005, it was reissued in 2009.

Pedro II Medal, 19th century

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:09:56 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Medals (or plaques) like this were made in France to decorate pianos and furniture. They were made of Bois Durci, a composite plastic material based on Albumen, in this case obtained from blood from slaughterhouses, mixed with a filler of woodflour and molded in steel molds under heat and pressure. This material was patented in France in 1855 and was used until early 20th century.
Pedro II was the second Emperor of Brazil, ruling from 1831 to 1889. This medal was probably made in the 1860s, and is one of the first plastics objects made with a Brazilian theme or aimed to Brazilian market.
These medals pictured royalty from around the globe, musicians, politicians and religious icons.
It is 11cm in diameter.
To see a similar medal molded with other material:
www.flickr.com/photos/galessa/391995761
to see other objects made of Bois Durci:
www.flickr.com/photos/galessa/363933974
www.flickr.com/photos/galessa/416620619
www.flickr.com/photos/galessa/661823240

If you want to know more about this material and design, please visit the site of Bois Durci specialist Harold Mernick, Bois Durci Information Center and see his fantastic collection. Then go to the site of another Bois Durci specialist, Gaston Vermosen, and buy his amazing book on the subject.

Donald Duck novelty radio, 1970s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:09:33 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This transistor radio is an American novelty design from the early 1970s by Philgee International, made in USA and, in this case, in Brazil by Electra Radio do Brasil. It is made of injected white Polystyrene plastic with painted colors. Some other comic and cartoon characters were depicted in these radios; I've seen Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone, Bugs Bunny, Pinocchio, Batman and Winnie the Pooh.
It is 18cm high.

Goyana Fish Dish by Aldemir Martins, 1964

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:09:22 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Made of Melamine plastic, this dish was part of a table set or sold for decorative purposes only. The design of the dish was copied from a line by American brand Branchell, from in the 1950s. The applied design was made by Brazilian artist Aldemir Martins. In the mid 1960s Goyana used many illustrations by him and Djanira, artists using popular or naive Brazilian themes in their works.
This dish has a diameter of 25cm.

You may also check the set "Melamine!":
www.flickr.com/photos/galessa/sets/72157618864221744/

IDEAL's FIX-IT Toy Car, early 1950s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:43:38 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Marx's Toy Washing Tub, early 1950s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:43:27 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Cheap toys from the 1950s and 60s were generally made of injected Polystyrene plastic, a cheap material ideal for mass production that reached the markets in huge volumes after WWII. This brittle plastic made toys short-lived and it is great to find some in great shape like this washing tub. This American design was made by the Brazilian branch of the famous Louis Marx and Co. and came complete with a carousel-like clothes line (not shown here) in it's original box (see below), where we can read it was considered "an ideal instructive toy for girls". It brings the proud MARX logo, what makes it ideal for puns involving young proletarians.
The tub is 17 cm in diameter.

Space Razer Ray Gun, 1960s

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:43:15 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Cheap toys from the 1950s and 60s were generally made of injected Polystyrene plastic, a cheap material ideal for mass production that reached the markets in huge volumes after WWII. This brittle plastic made toys short-lived and it is great to find some in great shape like this ray gun. This Space Razer (friction powered!) releases sparkles in the transparent nose when triggered. The body used to be white, but exposition to light made one side to get this rich ivory color. Probably made in Hong Kong.
18 cm long.

Fada "Bullet" Radio model 1000, 1946

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:54:50 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

A favorite among collectors, the FADA Bullet is also known as the "Streamliner". Made of cast Bakelite, it came in a range of color combinations, that may have changed dramatically over time. This one was originally all translucent onix white, for instance. The knobs and the dial frame took slightly different hues from the rest of the cabinet. Radios like these can fetch four digit prices, especially when in rare and contrasting color combinations. This design was first produced in 1941 as the model 115, then released again after the war as the model 1000 with minute changes.
The golden dial and the lens were made of celluloid, but this lens is a replacement.
The radio is 26 cm wide.

Philips Ladyshave model HP 2111, 1969

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:54:32 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This shaver was produced from 1969 to 1978 in many countries like Austria and, as this one, Argentina. The shaver and it's case were made of injected ABS plastic.
The shaver is 6 cm high.

Fakelite Bangle, 2009

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:54:19 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This is not a Bakelite bangle. Bakelite bangles made in the 1930s and 40s are very prized these days, some in the four digit price range. Time for fakes!
Bangles like this are made by the hundreds in India and you can buy loads of them on the maker's site. They look like Bakelite, will smell for a while like Bakelite and the carving is incredibly well made. It is probably made of Polyester resin (to be confirmed) and are really beautiful. Buyers should be aware of these imitations and if tempted to buy them, buy very cheaply. Bakelite collectors call them Fakelite.

Update: HERE is a link where you can find producers of Fakelite jewelry from China and India, including the one who made the one above.

Victorian Mourning Brooch, 19th century

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:45:33 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

Small mourning brooches like this were common in Victorian England in the 1800s. The hand could hold a few different plant arrangements or objects, with different meanings. This holds a roses and forget-me-nots wreath meaning love and a laurel sheaf meaning hope or victory. The brooch was molded from ground horn in metal molds, achieving perfect detail quality. Horn is a natural plastic and workshops for molding and carving it were established in England in the 1300s.
It is 6 cm long.

Braun Exporter Radio, 1956

nobody@flickr.com (galessa's plastics) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:45:23 -0700

galessa's plastics posted a photo:

This transistor radio is considered to be one of the first contributions of functionalist Ulm Design School (HfG Ulm), Germany, to Braun, although the actual designers are never mentioned. This radio was meant for foreign markets and is oddly marked only as "foreign". It seems those Ulm functionalists could cope with some color after all. Made of white and tan injected Polystyrene; the strap is Vinyl.
It is 17,5 cm wide.