Vintage Black Bakelite Cape and Coat Ornament

This unique vintage black cape and coat ornament set of carved black Bakelite dates to the 1920s era. This ornament set is meant to be sewn onto a cape or coat to add a decorative clasp to these garments. It is in great vintage condition. With original package card. Made in the USA.

Often known as "Bakelite," catalin is a brand name for a thermosetting polymer developed and trademarked in 1927 by the American Catalin Corporation of New York City, when the patent on Bakelite expired that year. A phenol formaldehyde resin, it can be worked with files, grinders, and cutters, and polished to a fine sheen.

Catalin is produced by a two-stage process, different than other types of phenolic resins, and does not contain fillers, such as sawdust or carbon black. Catalin is transparent, rather than opaque. Unlike other phenolics, it can be produced in bright colors or even marbled. This fact has made Catalin more popular than other types of Bakelite for consumer products.

Approx. 3.75" long total, 1" wide. Each half of the set is approximately 1.5", with the connecting ring in the middle approximately 0.75" wide.