This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts. Bakelite jewelry was one of the only affordable accessories for women ...

Created more than a century ago, bakelite is a completely synthetic plastic material used in industrial and commercial products. Because it doesn’t contain petroleum, it can’t be melted or recycled.

There’s a particular kind of thrill that comes from picking up something ugly at a garage sale and later discovering it was worth serious money. Bakelite jewelry occupies that exact space — chunky, ...