Some Lucite Lovelys from my collection

I collect Lucite jewellery. This consists mainly of brooches ( I have over 200 of them!), bangles, earrings, about a dozen compacts, a black 1940s Corde handbag with Lucite handle and zip pull and a couple of novelties such as a lipstick holder and a paperweight. Lucite is an acrylic plastic. It was actually the trade name used by Dupont when they patented their material in the late 1930s. ( ICI called their version Perspex.) All of my compacts and brooches date from the 1930s, 1940s and1950s and most have reverse carved decoration. The Lucite was first carved out and then some colour filler was applied to give detail to the picture. Lucite compacts, jewellery and accessories are often carved with flowers so it is especially exciting to find other subjects.
Photo One: - Starting clockwise in the top left hand corner we have :
RED ROSE - this was purchased from a USA dealer so I have assumed it is
American. It is unmarked. The Rose is very naturalistic and has lots
of leaves and detail. It is enhanced by a white satin background. The
compact is round in shape with gilt metal and a wavy design on the
bottom.
WHITE SWAN - this is a Kigu of London compact so is definitely English.
It shows a majestic swan surrounded by water plants and also has a
little yellow flower with leaves at the top, which is somewhat bizarre!
All of the carving sits against a background of black fabric with a
shot of gold through it. The compact is round and finished in gold
tone with engine engraved decoration to the front and a different
pattern of engine engraving on the bottom.
GOLDFISH - this is a Melissa compact and was made in England. The
Goldfish look so real they might even swim away! They are surrounded
by pond weeds and have a blue background. I suspect that the blue
background is a paper disc which is trying to look like it is
enamelled. The compact is round and gold tone with a floral banded
pattern to the front and engine engraved pattern on the bottom.

FLORAL BLACK - another Melissa compact from England. I like the
rectangular shape of this one and the way that the black enamel
enhances the carved Lucite detail on the top. This one has two small
red roses with leaves on a cream ground but it also has a cut away
design around the edges of the Lucite. The metal is gold tone with
engine engraved decoration on the bottom.

And finally, in the middle, the best one of all.....

FLORAL BASKET - I adore these Kigu miniature basket compacts. I have
seen quite a few of them and they are dinky and
lovely. This one has a round Lucite disc on top which has two full
blown bubblegum pink roses, a faded blue flower and a claret flower
with sage green leaves. Finished in gold tone, it has a cute handle
and lots of engraving to make it really basket-like.
Photo Two – American Vintage 1940s Black Corde Purse with Lucite Handle and Zip Pull.
Photo Three – A handmade butterfly brooch from the 1940s.
Photo Four – A rare Lea Stein of Paris Brooch where the outer border has a Lucite appearance but is likely to be of another early plastic, possibly Rhodoid or Cellulose Acetate.