Trifari Silvertone & Green Plastic Clip Earrings

I have to say Trifari is one of my favorite costume jewelry companies because of their well-made unique designs.  These earrings feature both smooth and textured silvertone metal set with marbelized flat green plastic pieces.  They were made in the late 1950s to early 1960s.  They totally remind me of that era, similiar to the juke boxes and chrome laden cars often seen at that time. 

I found a great timeline of plastic on http://www.thecarrotbox.com/ and here is a lengthy, but extremely informative excerpt:

Celluloid - 1869 The first major plastic, celluloid is discovered in 1869 by American John W. Hyatt. It is manufactured in 1872 during a time of high demand for an ivory replacement.

Galalith - 1897 Two German researchers, trying to create a white chalkboard, mix casein (milk protein) with formaldehyde and create a new plastic called Galalith (from the Greek gala, milk, and lithos, stone). It is also manufactured under the name Erinoid. Casein plastics are still used today, mainly in the production of buttons.

Bakelite - 1909 The first completely synthetic man-made substance, Bakelite is invented in 1909 by independent New York chemist Leo H. Baekeland. The "material of a thousand uses" is used to make everything from car parts to jewellery, but jewellery sales are suspended in 1942 in order to concentrate supplies on the war effort. Bakelite pieces are now valuable collectibles. Andy Warhol was an avid collector and, when he died in 1987, his pieces sold for record prices at Sotheby's.

1920s Plastic enters haute couture when Coco Chanel includes bakelite jewellery in her accessories collection.

Catalin - 1927 When Bakelite's 1910 patent expires in 1927, the Catalin corporation starts making the same substance under the name "Catalin" and adds fifteen new colours to the colour range. 70% of the "bakelite" remaining today is Catalin. Also suspends jewellery sales in 1942 (see above). Plastic is the perfect medium for the Art Deco period, when bold, colourful, geometric designs are popular.

Lucite/Plexiglas/Perspex - 1931 "Lucite" is the brand name of a polyacrylic discovered by DuPont in 1931. Around the same time, an identical polyacrylic is developed by the Rohm & Haas Chemical Company and named "Plexiglas." In the UK and other European nations, it is generally known as "Perspex." DuPont markets Lucite jewellery after the war.

Post WWII Thanks in part to improved technology — i.e., better plastics — Bakelite and Catalin become obsolete.

Lexan - 1953 Daniel Fox, a chemist at General Electric, discovers a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic that looks like acrylic but is much more durable (almost bulletproof). A patent is filed in 1955 and it is given the brand name "Lexan." Familiar products made of Lexan include Apple's iBook and iPod and Naglene water bottles.

1988 After his death in 1987, Andy Warhol's extensive bakelite jewellery collection sells for record prices at Sotheby's.

1998 In May, the bakelite "Philadelphia bracelet" sells for US$17,000 at a Treadway/Toomey auction.

Today Bakelite collecting is still going strong, but this website tries to focus on all the other types of plastic rings out there!

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Illusion Jewels. Retrieved 5/31/2011 from http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarkst.html

The Carrot Box. Retrieved 5/31/2011 from http://www.thecarrotbox.com/plastic/index.asp