Rockin' Rockers

Among my favorite rockers, this sporty set of three boasts creamed corn Bakelite with a black Bakelite spot in the middle. Rocker buttons never disappoint with their curved design and two-tone vivacity. I love putting these together and seeing how the contrasting colors "pop" so stylishly and with a jaunty art deco effect. From the world of 1930's charm & chutzpah—rocker buttons rock!

Visit Doreen's online store:
BUTTONS FROM THE ATTIC

-Sherbert McGee

for Leo Baekeland

Here's a handsome button in two tones of beautifully smooth Bakelite. The base is apple juice with fine carvings while the top layer is chocolate brown and absolutely blemish-free. This is a large button that must've looked striking in the 1920's or early 1930's on a debonair coat of substantial style.

After all these years of celebrating Bakelite on this blog, would you believe it's taken me this long to remember the birthday of famed Bakelite-inventor, Leo Baekeland? Today's the day; so happy birthday Leo! A Belgian-American chemist, Leo Baekeland patented his invention and named it after himself in 1907. Since then, he's been nicknamed "The Father of the Plastics Industry" and a true giant of chemical sciences. Wealthy and eccentric in his elderly days, Leo died in 1944 around the time that Bakelite (as a fashion and household product) also died out while new types of plastic came to dominate the market.

-Sherbert McGee

Hard Candy, Cherry Swirl

Red Bakelite never looked so bold and delicious. This melt-in-your-mouth coat button is trying to hypnotize you with its carved set of wavy lines and yummy shine. Likely harking back to the Roaring Twenties, it's buttons like this one that shout of jazz-age flamboyance and which makes Bakelite so exciting to collect. And what a snack for the eyes! This big cherry doozy resembles pure candy.

-Sherbert McGee

ART NOUVEAU: Preview

All this year I've been posting "teasers" of Art Nouveau buttons with the promise of a full week of Art Nouveau buttons that shall be posted before the end of the year. The year is almost up. So get ready, button lovers! Coming soon (a week before Christmas), those buttons will finally be revealed. In the meantime, here's one last teaser: a button/cape clasp set with brass escutcheons at rest on chocolate Bakelite. The Bakelite on the button isn't carved, but distinctly angled to give the metal piece some lift. The escutcheons are the Art Nouveau feature, resembling stylized flowers budding with eruptive filaments. Then again, they look a bit like cornucopias or the antiquated horns of old phonographs or gramophones (i.e. record players). To the trained eye, the metal designs are distinguishable as Art Nouveau. Pre-dating the art deco style, these buttons hark back to the 1920's if not earlier. I'm lucky to have scored these as a set since it's difficult finding buttons with matching clasps. Now mark your calendars for what's ahead because the Art Nouveau buttons I'm posting next month are the jewels of my collection and I promise it'll be a very special week of buttons.

-Sherbert McGee

Moss Boss

This old button was on hold for next year, since I was planning on using it for my Saint Patrick's Day button. But on second thought, I've decided to post this button early. Made of rich "moss" Bakelite, otherwise known as split pea soup, the color is a murky green with black veins and an earthy vibe. This gorgeous shamrock is carved deeply with luscious curves and leafy details. From the 1930's

-Sherbert McGee

Rootbeer Mood

I'm in the mood for rootbeer, so here's my rootbeer mood button—catching some dusky rays before the sun goes down this evening. It's a Bakelite button, nicknamed "rootbeer" for what is actually faux tortoise. This one's a double-decker with a rootbeer base and a plump topper in rootbeer as well. Between the Bakelite layers rests a 4-petaled collar in brass. A beauty of a button, circa 1930.

-Sherbert McGee

Toggle Tuesday: Tidbits

Quirky, perky and colorful, here's a set of three cookie toggles. The middle cylinders on these buttons are made of creamed corn Bakelite. Each is rolled up in outer sections of cherry red, bright green and dark brown (espresso) Bakelite. Am I mistaken or have I seen edible cat treats similar to the shape of these old toggle buttons? Amusing treasures of Bakelite's glory days, these jolly tidbits likely go back to the late 1920's / early 1930's. 

-Sherbert McGee

Chrysanthemums

Wonderful mums, yes? Like blossomy seashells, these buttons exemplify the signature beauty of carved Bakelite. I purchased this set of three last year from my friend Doreen. She wasn't kidding when she said these are easy to photograph. It's true. These creamed corn chrysanthemums are camera-ready and oh-so-sweet with their ruffled motif of sculpted petals. Truth be told, these are among my favorite buttons. Circa 1930.

P.S. The birth flower for November is the Chrysanthemum.

Visit Doreen's online store:
BUTTONS FROM THE ATTIC 

-Sherbert McGee  

This Blog Turns Three...Happy Birthday!

Yippee ki-yay and Happy 3rd Birthday to my Bakelite button blog! To celebrate the occasion, here's a triangle button in AJ Bakelite that's packed full of cupcake sprinkles if not a bright rain of confetti. Likely celluloid cutouts, the rain of sprinkles are yellow, lime green, dark blue and reddish orange. It's a 3-sided button for a 3-year-old blog. Thank you to all who follow this day-to-day celebration.

-Sherbert McGee

Halloween Again

Happy Halloween again! I always feel a little cheated on the day after Halloween because so many countries outside of the USA go on celebrating All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, both of which are literally ushered in by Halloween. With that said, here's another festive button to celebrate the holidays. It's a huge button in scrumptious, creamed corn Bakelite. This button is so large that at first glance I thought for sure it had to be a dress clip. It's definitely a button, situated here on a live pumpkin. Carved with a crisscross midsection that reminds me of a bumpy pineapple rind, the design is deep and definitive of Bakelite like so many of those jangly art deco bangles that truly exemplify this swanky old plastic. And back on the subject of Halloween, here's a poem I wrote to commemorate the day after our ghostliest holiday—aptly titled, Halloween Again.

Halloween was yesterday,

But I can’t let it go.

The candle in my pumpkin

Is still giving off a glow.

So I put on my goblin horn

And spooky goblin smock

And keep on trick or treating

Down the street and up the block.

I’m not done with Halloween

And it’s not done with me.

I’m howling, “Boo!”

As to renew my goblin jamboree,

But all my neighbors fuss and cuss

And tell me loud and clear:

HALLOWEEN IS OVER, KID!

IT’S ONLY ONCE A YEAR!

So I tear off my goblin horn

And scream and gripe and pout

And kick my pumpkin off the porch

And blow the candle out.

I’ve had my share of lousy days,

But this one is the worst.

The second round of Halloween

Should be November 1^st!

-Sherbert McGee