The Bakelite Collection [Hardcover]

Matthew L. Burkholz (Author), John Hylton (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: September 1997

You know you're hooked when you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach. Is it a shortness of breath or a flush that comes to your face when you see it in a case at an antique mall, or on someone's arm as you stroll down the aisle shopping at an antiques show? Has someone caught you staring intently at their wrist or lapel and mistaken your focused gaze for some sign of familiarity? If any or all of the above symptoms or scenarios seem familiar to you, it's possible you may have it! Yes, it's all too true, you may indeed be suffering from...BAKELITE FEVER! The Bakelite Collection describes some of the many differing collecting preferences of some of the nation's most prolific appreciators of fine Bakelite jewelry. Men and women, doctors and lawyers, modernists and traditionalists alike have fallen prey to Bakelite fever. Their stories, experiences, lovingly assembled collections will delight every Bakelite collector. The Bakelite Collection showcases these fantastic jewelry arrays in luscious detail, using full color photography. A price guide makes it a truly valuable book for all sufferers of Bakelite Fever.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

An avid collector and dealer, Matthew Burkholz lives in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764300164
• ISBN-13: 978-0764300165
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, February 5, 2001

By 

"buddy_x" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bakelite Collection (Hardcover)

This book will take your breath away. If you're a Bakelite aficionado, you'll want this book to show others why you are. If you're a novice collector, as I am, you'll see how wrong you were if you thought Bakelite consisted of jewelry, radios, napkin rings and salt and pepper shakers (though those are here, too, and probably as you've never seen them). And if you (perhaps most enviously of all) have no idea what Bakelite is, this book is the best possible introduction. Color photographs spaciously and copiously displayed throughout tell the story, with just enough text to supplement without being invasive.

Much of the book's power derives from the ways in which different collectors display and combine their Bakelite. Sometimes it's the sheer volume that makes the impact, and sometimes it's the unexpected and witty use of Bakelite where you'd expect to see real fruit or flowers. And sometimes, when a piece is just extraordinary, it'll be shown on a jacket lapel or on a wrist -- and that's all you'd want.

Categories include things like "Patriotic," "Carved," "Reverse Carved," "Nautical," "School Days," "European," "Tropicale," "The Bakelite Table," but these are merely organizational devices that don't in any way make the presentation monotonous or predictable. The colors of Bakelite are as varied as the pieces in which they're found. With this much variety, there's nothing monotonous about the Bakelite on display.

I bought this book on a whim and without benefit of being able to page through it; seldom have I had a whim so handsomely and expensively rewarded. I say "expensively," because the book sends me to ebay, where I'll begin adding to those napkin rings and s/p shakers immediately.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A huge, gorgeous, and comprehensive book on Bakelite jewelry!, July 21, 1998

By 

Wendy (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bakelite Collection (Hardcover)

Matthew L. Burkholz is one of the premiere dealers of Bakelite jewelry. When he was writing and compiling this book, he had access to the collections of today's leading collectors . Because of this, his book showcases the greatest assortment of high end Bakelite jewelry I've ever seen. Everything is in here, from Celluloid and Lucite to the most wonderful Bakelite available. There's even a section on Bakelite barware and salt and pepper shakers. Matthew's informative comments, and John Hylton's beautiful photographs, give the reader a delicious and delightful education. Published in 1997, the price guide seems accurate. Probably the most unique and fun feature of this book is that Matthew includes a chapter on the collectors themselves. With several pages devoted to each, we learn about the people and their collections. The reader also gets a glimpse into the homes of some collectors and is able see how they display and live with their collections. Guaranteed to make you drool, this book is great!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book, September 11, 2011

By 

Marcia Larkin "San Diego Nana" (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bakelite Collection (Hardcover)

This book is excellent for top-of-the-line Bakelite. The pieces you see in this book are the best examples of Bakelite and are rarely found in today's market - the collectors already have them. But it's good to see 'the best' so you will know what to look for when shopping for Bakelite - sometimes you find a rare piece. I was lucky to buy a few of these pieces from a collector who was selling. I bought what I could afford and have been wearing them since. I started buying a few pieces at the flea mart at reasonable prices but soon I wanted the better ones, that was 20 years ago and I'm still wearing them and enjoying them. The best thing about Bakelite jewelry is you can wear and enjoy your collection. Don't hesitate to buy this book, it's the best one out there and I have them all. The more knowledge you have the better you will be when finding good pieces. Good Luck and have fun collecting.