Galalith Necklaces by Auguste Bonaz

Photos from left to right:

- Auguste Bonaz cream and red galalith necklace, circa 1928 -- note the metal barrel clasp
- Auguste Bonaz signature. Easy to fake as it is heat-stamped into the galalith.
- Auguste Bonaz galalith necklace in white and black. Circa 1928.
- Galalith necklace in red and black attributed to Auguste Bonaz. It is an exact match to one on page 137 of Jewels of Fantasy, by Deanna Farnetti Cera, except for its clasp. Ginger Moro and I examined this piece and believe it is probably a fake.
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In the early 1900s, celluloid and galalith plastics became popular as replacements for natural horn plastic. These new plastics which could convincingly emulate ivory, horn and tortoise moved the market from handmade to mass market. Galalith was a milk-based casein plastic and was more durable than celluloid, heat-malleable and produced in a wide range of colors.

Auguste Bonaz took over the family hair ornament business from his father, switching from natural horn to celluloid in 1910 for pendants and beautiful, lacey openwork headdresses and mantilla combs, some as high as 30 centimeters. After Auguste Bonaz's death in 1922, his wife and sons continued to run the firm and switched to buckles and small pins for cloche hats as hairstyles changed. In the late 1920s, they produced bold Modernist necklaces of Galalith sections in contrasting colors.

These necklaces were highly collectible starting in the 1990s, so much that an entire industry was built around selling fakes. I haven't paid any attention to the market for these in many years, but there are pieces for sale. Buyer beware!