Tag Archives: bakelite

Design and Innovation

Eye On Design: Norman Bel Geddes, Patriot Radio

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norman bel geddes patriot radio photo by gail worley
Photos By Gail

Norman Bel Geddes (1893 – 1958) was an influential American industrial designer known for his innovative and futuristic designs in the early to mid-20th century. One of his notable creations was the Patriot radio (1940): a sleek and modern tabletop radio that showcased Geddes’ forward-thinking design sensibilities. It was a departure from the traditional boxy and ornate designs of radios at the time. Instead, Geddes envisioned a streamlined and futuristic appearance for the Patriot, incorporating modern materials and a distinct visual aesthetic.
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Arts and Culture

Modern Art Monday Presents: Salvador Dali, Lobster Telephone

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lobster telephone photo by gail worley
Photos By Gail

In 1938, Salvador Dali created Téléphone-homard (Lobster Telephone) by uniting a working Bakelite telephone with a plastic lobster.

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Design and Innovation

Eye On Design: Red Bakelite Bead Necklace

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red bakelite bead necklace photo by gail worley
Photos By Gail

This Red Bead Necklace was crafted from Bakelite (beads and chain links) cellulose acetate, with a metal clasp, and attributed to an unknown American designer. In the twentieth century, plastic manufacturing transformed the American jewelry industry and allowed for the production of fashionable yet affordable pieces. This chain link and cube necklace represents a style that was especially popular during the Depression era and the early 1940s.

red bakelite bead necklace photo by gail worley

Photographed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

Design and Innovation

Skyscraper Cabinet and Shelving By Paul T. Frankl

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Skyscraper By Paul T Frankl
Photo By Gail

By the 1920s, the skyscraper was a symbol of American modernity. Here, designer Paul Frankl uses maple and Bakelite to suggest the jagged, upward-reaching outline of a New York skyscraper. By breaking with the constraints of the past, this towering architectural form expressed the excitement and optimism of a new era.

Photographed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.