Reverse Carved Lucite Jewelry

Morning Glory Antiques & Jewelry
presents
~

JEWEL CHAT
Costume Jewelry Magazine

"PLASTIC CARVING DESIGNS"
1947

From
The HOME CRAFTSMAN
The Magazine for the Practical Homeowner
March-April 1947
Reverse Carving

The HOME CRAFTSMAN
March-April, 1947
"Flower forms for internal carving in plastics."
by Harry Zeback

"Before starting an internal carving, polish one or
more
edges of the clear plastic so you can see how deep you are carving. Outline
the design… press gently using a tapered drill… avoid cutting one flower
form into another."

Each flower is formed by carving at various
angles and shapes, and to different depths.

The rose seems the most challenging to
master. "Flowers may be left natural or colored with plastic dyes, tempera
colors, oil paints or lacquers… cavities may be filled with plaster of
Paris if desired."

Carved Bakelite, Lucite and
plastic jewelry and was made in home workshops and high school shop classes
as well as being done professionally. While it was most popular in the
1940’s-1950’s, there are carvers who still do this kind of work today, such
as Ron & Ester Shultz. Examples of this kind of intricate jewelry is
shown below.

LUCITE
reverse carved and painted desk ornament. Although the flower looks almost
real, it is not. Nothing is embedded into the Lucite but rather, it is
carved and panted from the reverse, giving a realistic appearance from the
front.
View
View #B23229

Side view showing depth of carving.

Back view showing carved area sealed with
resin.

LUCITE
reverse carved pink rose lipstick stand, 1-1/4" high and 2-1/8" wide, tag on
bottom reads, "Bircraft, Huntington, Indiana". #B23508

All pieces shown for
scale.

LUCITE reverse carved pink rose pen stand, 2" x 2". #B23509

LUCITE reverse carved and painted red roses pin, 2".
View #B12792

LUCITE reverse carved and painted 1-3/4" pin and 3/4"
screw back earrings with red and white roses. View
View #B12795

LUCITE reverse carved and painted rectangular
1-1/2" pin with yellow roses on black background. View
#B12798

LUCITE reverse carved and painted orange butterfly and
pansy pin, 1-3/4".
View #B12799

LUCITE oval reverse carved and painted 1-5/8" pin with red
roses on white background. View
#B12797

LUCITE
reverse carved and painted red roses clip back earrings 5/8".
#B23388

LUCITE reverse carved and painted purple flower brooch, 2".
View #18202

LUCITE
reverse carved and painted blue roses clip back earrings 5/8".
View #B13891

LUCITE reverse
carved and painted yellow roses pin and screw-back earrings. #B23493

LUCITE reverse carved pink
roses and green leaves pin and earrings. #B23731

LUCITE reverse carved and painted basket with lavender flowers pin, 2".
View #B27257

LUCITE reverse
carved pink rose desk ornament.
View #B23648

LUCITE reverse carved and painted
floral bangle, 2-1/2" by 1/2".
View #B27258

LUCITE reverse carved and
painted violets 1-1/2" pin and 1" pierced earrings. #B27557

VIEW of all for size comparison.

LUCITE floral ring stands, each 2" tall. Orange 1-1/2" wide
#B23099; pink 1-5/8" wide #B23101; red 1-1/2" wide #B23097; yellow 1-1/2"
wide #B23098.
View #B23097

LUCITE reverse carved and painted stand, 3" by 3".
View
View #B23389

GEM TONE reverse carved and
painted roses on black background brooch with original paper tag on back,
2". View #B26375

LUCITE reverse carved deer in a
landscape brooch, 1-1/2".
View #B29148

LUCITE reverse
carved pink roses and green leaves pin with a black background.
View #B23646

Reverse Carved Bakelite

Shultz Bakelite &
Lucite
Contemporary Reverse Carved Jewelry