Bakelite Pins (Schiffer Book for Collectors) [Paperback]

Karima Parry (Author)

Book Description

Series: Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: July 2007

Bakelite plastic costume jewelry continues to be one of the hottest collectibles around. Its a retro fashion trend whose time has come...again! Bakelite pins are miniature works of art that are fun to collect. With prices ranging from a few dollars up to thousands for special pieces, a Bakelite pin collector needs to be knowledgeable. Author Karima Parry, a nationally known Bakelite expert, covers the history of Bakelite pins including the evolution of their designs, sections on testing, common decorative techniques, other vintage plastic pins, and how to avoid fakes and reproductions. This book features a landmark chapter on contemporary Bakelite pins made by artists Ron and Ester Shultz, Bruce and Vickie Pantti, and others. The book is lavishly illustrated with over 600 color photos and a clear price guide with every pin. Beautiful to look at, as well as interesting and informative, this book is the definitive guide to Bakelite pins.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

This is Karima Parrys second book on Bakelite, in addition to a popular website and numerous articles. She lives in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer+publishing Ltd (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764313266
• ISBN-13: 978-0764313264
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,052,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything about Bakelite Pins....and MORE!, February 6, 2005

By 

Plastic Princess (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bakelite Pins (Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

As a long time Bakelite jewelry collector who has just about every book ever written about Bakelite, I didn't think there was much more that could be said about Bakelite Pins- but Karima Parry has done it again. This is not another "Hey, look what I've got" book written by a collector just to show off their collection. Only a few of the pins shown in this book are from Parry's own collection. And, like some of the Bakelite jewelry books out there, it isn't a compendium of the finest Bakelite pins in existence- you know, the ones that most collectors are never going to find, or be able to afford. This book shows a range of Bakelite pins, from very simple and affordable, right up to several of those rare showpiece pins that all Bakelite collectors lust after. Bakelite pins are examined from the perspective of their design and craftsmanship, tracing the evolution of both from the late 1920s right up to the present pieces being made by a few modern Bakelite artists like Ron and Ester Shultz and Bruce and Vicki Pantti. Instead of just presenting pin after pin, Parry discusses the different design trends in the early to mid 20th century that influenced Bakelite pin makers, and she offers a unique insight into the pins. But true to form, the author is careful to make this book a useful reference for collectors. Every pin is shown in full color, with pertinent details and a price range, and the pins are well organized by subject. Most of all, this is not just a picture book, or a collector guide. This concise study of Bakelite Pins is a short, beautifully illustrated lesson in art history, as viewed through the micro lens of Bakelite pins.