Bakelite Pins & Brooches from Elvenkrafte Studios

This pin is one of my favorites from the 2014 Valentines season. I based this design on a vintage piece that I've seen a few times. The original and vintage piece was a man walking his dog. I made quite a few changes but the general stride and appearance of the man are similar. I redesigned him as a mailman, added a bag for his letters, a hat, and then attached bakelite hearts and letters on plastic covered string. The vintage bakelite is a nice butterscotchy color that is perfect for the man's flesh tone. The pin measures 3 1/2 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I have secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed on the back as well. The mailman's blue uniform and other details on the pin are painted with enamel paint.

Price....$300.00

Carved Bakelite Light Yellow Kitty Cat Pin

Here is a simple yet effective design featuring a light yellow kitty cat looking up. The pin is carved from vintage lightly marbled cream corn bakelite. The eye is inlaid using green and black bakelite. The pin measures 2 1/2 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component. My signature and the date are inscribed on the back.

Price....$185.00

Carved From Vintage Bakelite St. Louis Cardinals Mascot Fred Bird Pin

We're big Cardinal fans here in Southeast Missouri and I've thought about making one of these for a long time. I finally decided to do so and here he is. Fred is carved entirely from vintage bakelite, red, black, yellow, and white for the eyess. All parts are cut to fit each other and laminated together permenantly. The St. L symbol in the hat is inscribed and then filled with white enamel paint. The pin measures a bit over 3 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed on the back as well.

Price....$200.00

Carved and Over-dyed Bakelite Grasshopper on Wheat Pin

Here is a handsome summer-y pin which I carved out of vintage bakelite in the form of a grasshopper perched on a leaf and head of wheat. The bakelite is vintage cream corn which I have slightly over-dyed to a bit darker golden yellow to highlight the details of the carving. The eye is inlaid clear apple juice bakelite backed with gold leaf. The pin measures 3 inches long at the longest measurement, is nice and thick (about 3/8 of an inch in the thicker areas), and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I have secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed there as well.

SOLD

Carved Bakelite Butterfly Fish Pin

Here is a gorgeous little butterfly fish that I've carved from a lightly marbled vintage red and cream bakelite/catalin. Presently the colors appear to be more of a red-pink and cream but as time passes and the bakelite oxidizes, the pin will be an even more lovely shade of red/cream. The carving is quite detailed with individual scales carefully carved and an inlaid eye of clear apple juice bakelite and black bakelite for the pupil. This dandy little fish pin measures right at

2 3/4 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed there as well.

Price....$200.00

Carved Bakelite Tennis Racket & Tennis Shoe Charms Pin

This pin is one of the few sports related designs I've ever created. Obviously the pin depicts a tennis racket and pair of shoes. The racket and shoes are carved from a off-white bakelite that will oxidize (as all vintage white bakelite does) to a light cream corn color. I added a red bakelite handle to the racket and have also carved a green bakelite tennis ball, which remains unattached currently. I wasn't sure if the new owner would prefer the pin to have the ball attached to the racket, or have it without so will leave it up to the buyer. The shoes dangle from the racket on brass chain and gold colored metal eyelets. The longest measurement is measured from one end of the racket to the tips of the dangling tennis shoes, that measurement is about 3 1/2 inches. The pin hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed there as well.

Price....$250.00

Carved Bakelite & Oak Arithmetic - School Chalkboard and Hand Pin

Here is a pin that is quite reminiscent of vintage school themed bakelite jewelry designs with a hand that I've carved from butterscotch/flesh colored bakelite holding a piece of chalk that I've carved from pre-ban African elephant ivory. The hand is writing a math problem on a black bakelite chalk board that I've framed with 200+ year old oak wood. The math problem is painted on with white enamel paint (if the buyer wishes another math problem, different subject all together, or even a name or ?? written instead I believe I can remove the white enamel without too much trouble and repaint whatever the buyer prefers. The cuff on the wrist of the hand is also painted with enamel paint. The pin measures right at 4 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed on the back.

Price....$275.00

Carved Bakelite Sacred Heart Pin

It is very seldom that I create a piece of bakelite jewelry with a religious theme. This pin is one of the few. It is a pin depicting the Sacred Heart of Christ with the crown of thorns, the cross, and the flame of the Holy Spirit. The pin is carved entirely from vintage bakelite and measures just under 2 1/2 inches at the longest measurement. It hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back, and my signature and the date are inscribed on the back as well.

Price....$175.00

Carved Bakelite Kitten Playing with Christmas Ornament Pin

This pin, carved from an original design, is a whimsical piece depicting a cute little off-white kitten playing with a clear red Christmas Tree ornament. Carved entirely from vintage bakelite, the cat has clear green bakelite eyes which are backed with gold foil and have black bakelite pupils, and a pink bakelite nose. The red ball is carved from clear red prystal bakelite. The finer carved lines for the cat's fur, whiskers and etc., as well as the silver top on the ornament, are added with quality enamel paints. The pin measures just under 3 inches at the longest measurement, has my signature and the date inscribed upon the back, and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back.

SOLD

Carved Bakelite Ice Cream Cone Pin

Now here is a yummy new treat which looks as if it could begin melting any moment! It is a quite realistic ice cream cone which I've carved from vintage bakelite catalin. The ice cream is a perfect marbled light brown and cream color which looks like a chocolate vanilla swirl. The cone, carved like a sugar cone, is carved from a butterscotch brown bakelite and has a chocolate-y dark brown bakelite tip. The pin measures just under 3 1/4 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed on the back as well.

Price....$175.00

Bakelite Horse Race Pin with Race Horse Charms

Off to the races! This pin is one that I created with the Kentucky Derby in mind, it features three little bakelite race horse charms that I carved from bakelite and then hand painted the jockey riders on. The pin is carved completely from vintage bakelite, with a red bakelite bar pin for the charms to dangle from. Each charm is attached by means of brass chain and eyelets and the pin hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component secured to the back. My signature and the date of creation are carved on the back as well. This is a dandy pin for horse race fans!

Price ...$300.00

Even a Blind Mouse Finds a Peanut

Okay so the saying isn't "Even a blind mouse finds a peanut once in a while" but it could be..... and I thought that would make a great subject for this pin. Initially I was going to carve just the blind mouse but the peanut seemed like an added touch of whimsey. The pin is carved entirely from vintage bakelite, with the exception of the mouse's cane which is 14K gold filled metal. The mouse is tottering along, tap-tapping with the cane, until he stumbles onto a nice big bakelite peanut. The pin measures 2 3/4 inches at the longest measurement and hangs nicely from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back, where I've also inscribed my signature and the date.

Price....$200.00

Carved Bakelite Dachshund Dog & Fire Hydrant Pin

Here is a whimsical little pin that I carved using vintage bakelite and an original design. I've also carved versions of this design featuring a bulldog and a tan dachshund. This pin features a black Dachshund connected to a red fire hydrant with a length of sterling silver necklace chain. The hydrant measures 2 3/8 inches tall, the dog is 2 1/2 inches long. The dog's collar is red bakelite, inlaid, and his eye is white and black bakelite. I left the tail a bit thicker to keep it from being too fragile. Both the hydrant and the doggie have nickel silver pin components attached to the back and my signature and the date inscribed.

Price.....$300.00

Bakelite Hot Peppers and Leaves Charm Pin

Now this one is HOT stuff! A hot peppers and leaves pin which I've carved from vintage bakelite catalin. The base of the pin, a pair of leaves, is carved from a nicely marbled emerald grass green bakelite and dangling from it are a trio of hot peppers (also carved from vintage bakelite) and green bakelite leaves. There are one red, one yellow, and one green pepper, all nicely marbled bakelite and each with green bakelite tops. The peppers, all measuring right at 1 1/2 inches long, dangle from the leafy pin from brass chain links. The pin measures about 3 1/4 inches at the longest measurement and hangs perfectly from a brass pin component that I've secured to the back. My signature and the date of creation are inscribed on the back as well.

Price....$150.00

Bakelite and Ancient Oak Wood Basket of Peaches Pin

This is an extra special pin. Carved not only from lovely vintage bakelite catalin but also with a bushel basket that I've carved from oak wood which is at least 200 years old. This oak was probably an acorn, or a tree sprout, when the USA was still wild, free, and perhaps being explored by white men. The pin is carved to depict a bushel basket full of fresh peaches. The peaches are carved from a nice orangey pink marbled bakelite, with one pair of marbled green bakelite leaves, and are inlaid into the back of the oak wood. The basket also has green bakelite bands inlaid across its front. The oak for the basket is wood that I salvaged from logs that were used to build a huge old log barn that was built right around 150 t0 165 yrs. ago. When the barn was built, the oak tree was probably between 50 and 100 years old. In fact on the back of the pin you can see a couple of small square holes which were from square nails driven into the side of the log. One of the holes has a cut off piece of square nail (150+ year old square nail!!) still in it. I ruined a band saw blade cutting the wood because the nail was hidden and I didn't know it was there until too late. This is a fine summery pin and definitely will be a conversation keep-sake because of the wood's story. The pin measures a bit under 3 inches at the longest measurement and hangs from a nickel silver pin component that I secured to the back. My signature and the date of completion are also inscribed in the back.

Price....$200.00

Bakelite Azalea Flowers Pin

Here is a gorgeous azalea flower pin that I carved in 2008, one of several pieces that I recently bought back from a good long term customer. She never wore it and it is just as mint condition as the day that I carved it. The pin is carved entirely from vintage bakelite and is one that I spent a considerable amount of time and effort on to make it appear as realistic as possible. The flowers are carved from a thick light pink bakelite, with a bit of enamel detailing on the flowers' centers. The back of the pin, the green leaves and stem, is inlaid into the back of the flowers and is carved from a nice marbled emerald grass green bakelite. The pin measures nearly 4 inches at the longest measurement, is quite thick and sturdy, and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I secured to the back. My signature and the date are inscribed there as well.

Price....$400.00

Bakelite/Catalin Goldfish Pin

I have had so many people inquire about my carved goldfish pins that I figured I should probably carve a new one to list here on the website. Carved from a wonderful vintage orange Catalin that features sparkling "silver" dust mixed into it, this gold fish measures right at 3 1/4 inches long and nearly 3/8 of an inch thick! As you can see from the pictures, the fish is very detailed and the contours are very nice. The eye is inlaid using apple juice bakelite backed with gold foil and has a black bakelite pupil also. The pin hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component and has my signature and the date inscribed on the back as well.

SOLD But can carve similar pins

Carved Bakelite Small Koi Pin

Here is a smaller Koi fish pin, measuring only a bit under 2 3/8 inches in length, it is also carved from the "tequila sunrise" colored bakelite, this smaller version doesn't have as much marbling of the color mixture. It is more of an overall yellow-orange although I did use a red enamel wash to emphasize the carved details. This fish also has an inlaid eye of apple juice and black bakelite with a gold background to give it depth, and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component.

Price...$200.00

Carved Bakelite Mum Flower Pin

This is a gorgeous pin that I've carved from vintage bakelite/catalin in the form of a multi-petaled orange Mum with yellow center and a green marbled bakelite leaf base. Each of the colors has slight marbling and the carving is very dimensional and realistic. The pin masures right at 3 1/2 inches in length, has a nickel silver pin component secured to the back and my signature and the date are inscribed there as well.

Price....$175.00

Awesome Carved & Inlaid Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Pin

This is a pin that I was fortunate enough to purchase back this past year from the estate of a long time customer. The pin is one that I carved and sold in July of '08 and I don't think it has ever been worn. The lady who bought it from me kept all of her bakelite goodies locked away in a large jewelry box and most of the pieces she got from me had barely even started to re-oxidize. This particular pin is one that I spent a ton of time on, carefully inlaying the different colors and carving it realistically to depict one of my favorite butterflies, the tiger Swallowtail. The colors of the butterfly are all vintage bakelite, with the exception of the black veining in the wings which is inscribed lines filled with black enamel. The rest of the colors are pieces of vintage bakelite carefully cut and inlaid. The pin measures nearly 4 inches long and about 1/4 inch thick. It is a gorgeous pin and hangs perfectly from a nickel silver pin component that I've secured to the back with rivets.

Price.....$500.00

Carved and Laminated Red Bakelite Cocker Spaniel Dog Golfing Pin

His arms move to swing the golf club! Pin measures 3 & 1/8th inches long at the longest measurement. Arms and chest section move on a small pivoting brass screw inserted from the back. Movement is quite a realistic golf swing. Golf club is a steel rod with black Bakelite handle and white Bakelite iron/head. The club is inserted and laminated into the dog's hands. Dog also has a glass eye and a black Bakelite nose laminated into the red. Very nice polish overall and wonderful details, the shirt and shoes are painted with high quality enamel paint. This is a wonderful one of a kind pin carved from vintage Bakelite. My signature and the date are inscribed onto the back and a nickel plated steel safety clasp bar pin is attached with brads.

Reduced Price .....$200.00

Carved and Laminated Bakelite Santa Claus Pin

Here is the master elf himself.....good old St. Nicholas. I and my mother both collect vintage Santa Claus pieces (hint, hint) so he is one of my favorite subjects to carve. Most of the ones I have finished in the past though have somehow ended up in the collection of my dear mother though so offering this one on my website is almost being sneaky.... But we'll do it just this once... This is a charming Santa head pin that I've carved out of two vintage colors of Bakelite, there is the red of the hat and the white of the head. Once the pin was laminated, carved and polished I painted the face, mouth and ear with high quality enamel paint. Now the shape of this pin is a bit odd in that the back of it curves a little, I did this so that the tip of his beard and the hat would display outwards just a bit when the pin is worn. With the hat this way, the little white ball of Bakelite which is attached to the end will dangle on the metal eyelets which I used to attach it. The pin measures three inches at the longest measurement and has a very nice polish. I attached a nickel plated bar pin with safety clasp component onto the back with brads and inscribed my signature and the date. As most of you already know, the white Bakelite in this pin will very slowly oxidize to butter cream corn color over the years.

SOLD

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