Clip brooch

We have a group of these brooches, the clip on this one was made in the USA but was the brooch and would the others have been made in America too?

Clip brooch
Case number - PHSL: X14.28
A cast and carved phenolic clip brooch with a leaf shaped sun ray design. The metal clip is marked 'Made USA'.
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DesignerUnknown - Wanted
ManufacturerUnknown - Wanted
CountryUnknown - Wanted
Date1930-1939 (circa)
Dimensionslength 54 mm, width 28 mm, depth 12 mm
Materialsplastic, bakelite - generic term, PF, phenol formaldehyde, phenolic resin
Methodscast, carved
Colourorange
href=" http://www.10most.org.uk/artefact/clip-brooch"

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Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
27/05/14

Clip Brooch PHSL: X14.28 This object is part of a trial to see if giving specific guidance on research methods makes the game a more successful means of obtaining information about the objects featured. A wonderful collection of these brooches was donated to the Plastics Historical Society which lodges its collection on long term loan with MoDiP. We would love to know more about them. Does the use of a metal clip made in the USA mean the mouldings were made there too? Books on 20th century jewellery could be a place to start. Follow the investigation here: http://10most.org.uk/artefact/clip-brooch.

Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
30/05/14

It seems by looking at the collection we have of these clip brooches that the basic shape was cast and then the mouldings were carved by hand making them different from each other. What can you find out about this industry? American museums might know about this, that is if the moulding is from the USA like the clip.

Ian Holdsworth
Ian Holdsworth
04/06/14

For a very good introduction to American carved phenolic jewellery, its design and methods of manufacture, see the chapter 'Carved Jewelry' in The Bakelite Jewelry Book by Corrine Davidov and Ginny Dawes published by Abbeville Press, New York, in 1988.

Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
08/06/14

Thank you for that, Ian. We will look into it.

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Case notes

Susan Lambert's picture

Clip Brooch: Case PHSL : X14.28

Submitted by Susan Lambert on Tue, 27/05/2014 - 10:44.

This object is part of a trial to see if giving sepcific guidance on research methods makes the game a more successful means of obtaining information about the objects featured.

A wonderful collection of these brooches was donated to the Plastics Historical Society which lodges its collection on long term loan with MoDiP.  We would love to know more about them. Does the use of a metal clip made in the USA mean the mouldings were made there too? Books on 20th century jewellery could be a place to start.