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…