I’m on a stripe hunt . . . not to be mistaken with a snipe hunt. I’ve seen these stripes patterning bracelets and earrings, but only in photos. I can’t wait to get my paws on them! This deliciously colorful jewelry is called Philadelphia Bakelite. My pull towards collecting and selling Bakelite is increasing as the standards have risen after this discovery. I’ve been visualizing waltzing into a gritty antique shop, digging through a box of mismatched jewelry and coming across a striped, art deco beauty. And what-da-ya-know, it’s on sale for only $5! I see myself trying to contain my excitement as I pull out a fiver and hand it to the shop owner. Then I run squealing out of the store. Philadelphia Bakelite runs in the hundreds to the thousands of dollars. The huge price tag is due to the craftsmanship, as each colored section had to be carved and then precisely glued together. It is likely that the name came from a Philadelphia auction in 1985 when an amazing example of this sold for $17,000! Read more…

“I remember, when I was so small I could hardly read, seeing a cartoon of two men bathing on a solitary beach. The started to talk, got along splendidly, and after sunning themselves for a long time went behind different rocks to dress. One came out all smartness with a dangling lorgnette and a silver stick; the other in rags. Stupefied, they looked at each other, and with a cold nod each turned and went his separate way. They had nothing more to say to one another.” Elsa Schiaparelli

Imagine the Paris fashion scene in the 1930s with dreamy surrealism and elegant masquerade balls. It was the era of avant-garde artists, writers and actors mingling in Parisian cafes. Women dressed in Schiaparelli duds walked the streets in styles that turned heads – grand capes embroidered with golden rays of light, bows stitched into woolen sweaters, buttons molded into tiny circus horses, black velvet telephone handbags, hats fashioned from a shoe, black gloves with golden nails, and necklaces in the shape of a terrifying serpent, yet lined in red rubies. Read more…

Last December Bunny’s Trunk Show was invited to adorn models on the catwalk with our vintage jewelry at the UnEarthed Fashion Show in Chicago.  We were very excited because this was no ordinary show.  It was a show with student designers remaking vintage clothing.  They were bringing the past into the present with great contemporary looks.  I loved the idea.  In the back of my mind I have always wanted to re-make some of the broken vintage jewelry that I have been squirreling  away.  I have played around a bit, and really hope to start making some great pieces.  It was inspiring to see what they could do with the clothes.

The show was also great for me because I saw a new perspective on how to wear the vintage jewelry pieces.  Two of the necklaces were creativity placed on the models by the designers.  For example, I loved the way the Long Silver Tone Snake Chain Necklace was wrapped around the model’s neck so artistically.  I would have never imagined it could look this way.

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