Fabulous Fakelite: Review of Bow & Crossbones Jewelry

*Not sponsored, I bought these items with my money and these are my opinions.*

  The brand Bow & Crossbones has been popping up quite a lot in the vintage community, and after having a look at their products I decided to dive in and order a few pieces.

  Bow & Crossbones is a UK based company that makes reproduction vintage jewelry, a lot of it is what is known as 'fakelite'(they also make reproduction lucite).  Fakelite is, usually, a modern resin plastic item that mimics the look and feel of Bakelite, but without the dangerous chemicals(and high price point).  What caught my eye with this brand in particular(since there are several companies making fakelite) was their 'Adelaide' line, which looks just like the very rare Philadelphia colored Bakelite, one of my favorite designs.  Since actual Philadelphia Bakelite is incredibly expensive, I was thrilled to find such a close copy.

  B&C then released their 'Tini Deco Fan' line, so I last minute bought the earrings(I'm looking for more bold but still casual earrings).

All.

Closeup of Adelaide bracelet.

Closeup of Adelaide earrings.

Closeup of Tini Deco Fan earrings.

  Overall I'm very impressed with this company.  The shipping cost from England was reasonable, and arrived in a little over a week.  The colors are almost exact shades of original Bakelite pieces(which was important to me so I can mix these with my actual Bakelite), and the texture and weight are very close as well.  I would absolutely purchase from Bow & Crossbones again, and highly recommend to those interested in mid-century reproduction jewelry.



Further Research:
Bow & Crossbones: 40's 50's Repro & Vintage Accessories
Bow & Crossbones: Adelaide Bracelet
Bow & Crossbones: Adelaide Fan Earrings
Bow & Crossbones: Tini Deco Fan Stud Earrings

For The Love Of Vintage Plastics: My Bakelite Collection

  Bakelite has been found in almost every antique store I've ever walked into, yet only when I find particular pieces at good prices do I indulge.  However, there is also the past-time of trying to find Bakelite among the heaps of costume jewelry at thrift and antique stores alike, and although I'm not quite obsessed enough to dig through mountains of plastic jewelry to find some, I have a couple pieces that weren't marked and only after purchasing did I discover to most likely be Bakelite.

My largest Bakelite piece - a sewing box from probably the 1920s/30s.  The outside is tarnished(as is usually the case), but the inside has retained its beautiful original color, a deep red swirled with black.   Inside the lid is stamped 'Domart Sewing Box, Patented, Made in U.S.A. by The Domart Company, Glenside, PA.'

  As for Bakelite jewelry - I'm surprised at just how directly the value is reflected in how collectible the piece is.  Bangles can go for hundreds of dollars in some cases, yet brooches and earrings can be found at much lower prices.  I personally don't like bangles, but I love earrings and brooches, so this works in my favor(I also like to coordinate colors, so being able to buy matching sets is wonderful!)

Two bar brooches from the 1930s, and one rather large piece from the 1940s.  Unfortunately I didn't notice that the red one was glued together in the corner, but for the price I'm still quite happy with it.

Red pair with screw backs, 1930s/40s; green/yellow swirl pair with clip-on backs, 1940s/50s; brown carved pair whose original backs were replaced with pierced ear backs(not done by me!), 1930s/1940s.

Three buckles, all 1930s/40s.  The green one was sold as Bakelite, but the red and brown weren't - I only found out once I cleaned them and they emitted that pungent chemical smell all Bakelite collectors are familiar with(I'm still not completely sure about the brown buckle - the hue is different from my other brown Bakelite, but I'm still including it).

A rainbow of Bakelite!

Vintage Project Spotlight: 1935 Crochet Scarf, French Scarf

Welcome to the first in a new series spotlighting my vintage projects!

  Not all my projects are the type where I can show the whole process like my c. 1923 Butterick Dress , so these posts will just show the finished product, my inspiration, and how I style them.

This vintage project spotlight is on my 1935 crochet scarf, 'French Scarf'.

(source)

  I've had this icy gray size 5 acrylic crochet thread for months, and I just couldn't think what to make with it.  I bought this back when I was just starting to dip my toe into using crochet thread, and it turns out that acrylic, as soft as it is, seems to get caught on the hook much, MUCH easier than using cotton thread.  I only had one ball, so I kept putting off using it since I just wanted to use it up and not buy anymore, but most patterns need at least two.  However, I finally found a cute scarf pattern that ended up using almost all the yarn.

  The pattern would be fairly simple for most people I assume(single crochet, chain, skip a stitch, then repeat, only doing single crochets under the chain), but for some reason I just can't get the hang of it(I always mess up when it's time to turn and start a new row).  To get a similar, loose effect, I did the body in double crochet instead, and continued following the pattern for the lacy edges(minus one row since I felt it was long enough and I was terrified I'd run out of yarn).

And here's the finished scarf!  

  I love that in the original photo it's shown worn with a bar pin, which I have several of and am always thinking about new ways to wear them.  It also looks great with this pastel-toned celluloid pin that I've been trying to wear more.

The shade in these outside photos makes the scarf look very blue - the tabletop views are much more accurate.

French Scarf #2020
Free Vintage Crochet: Patterns

Flipping Through: Harper's Bazar, January 1925

Today's 'Flipping Through' is Harper's Bazar from January 1925.

(This is a long one, so click below to see the whole magazine)

Historic Homes of America: The Crane Estate

  The Crane Estate, located in Ipswich, Massachusetts, was the summer home of Richard T. Crane, Jr., son of the founder(with the same name) of R.T. Crane & Bro. which later became the Crane Company.  Richard Jr. purchased the property in 1910, and built the first version of the house as well as the gardens in 1912.  It was then torn down in 1924 and was finished being rebuilt in 1928, which is the home that stands now.  David Adler designed the home in a 17th Century Stuart style, with the gardens having remained unchanged, designed by the Olmstead Brothers.  Richard Jr. married Florence Higinbotham in 1904, and they had two children, Florence and Cornelius. Richard Jr. was a member of the Jekyll Island Club, which was a prestigious club with members of the Vanderbilt, Astor, Rockefeller, and other wealthy families.  The Crane Company still exists today, but the house and its grounds are owned by The Trustees of Reservations, who received the property after the death of Richard Jr.'s wife in 1949.

My visit to the Crane Estate corresponded with the Roaring Twenties Lawn Party held there every year, so I was only able to get one shot of the outside.

Further Research:
Crane Co. - History
Trustees of Reservations: Crane Family Collection
Wikipedia: Castle Hill(the grounds of the house)
Trustees of Resrvations: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Ephemera: Writings of the Past II

  During my birthday antiquing trip I found some amazing antique postcards that I just had to add to my collection.
(As before, I'll copy them as close as I can, and will put question marks next to unsure words.)

Who Is Going To Blow?.-

Posted Nov 1, 1916
Mildred Johnston
Donellson, Ill.
We are all well.  tell Larence we do not want the turnips we got here at home.
from Ma.

When you play for me so sweet,

I'm completely at your feet.

Posted Mar 5, 1910
Miss Florence Arnsmeyer
425. Lake Ave.
St. Louis, Mo
Dear Friend
Recieved you card was very glad to hear from you.
I guess you had a good time Sunday by Ida.  Flora ask Lillie why she didn't anser my card.
from your Friend
Emma
ans soon

-What's The Use-

No postmark
Mr. C(?). H. Rudluff(?)
70 Post -Master
New York, N.Y.
Came home yesterday want to go back again but the Dr. wants me to stay here for a while, so it don't look like I will get to go.  we are a(?) going(?) ___(?) to the hospital this afternoon
will write you to-night if nothing happens
E(?). A. W(?).
U.S.S. North Dakota

Birthday Greetings

No postmark
Mrs. Nesbitt
Attica __(?), N.Y.
(Inside)
To Mrs. Nesbitt
From Mrs. Johnson
732 - 6th RN.(?)