Turquoise Bakelite Brooch Appraisal

Vintage Turquoise Bakelite or Plastic Costume Jewelry Brooch with Rhinestone Accents

This item is a vintage costume jewelry piece, likely a brooch or dress clip, featuring a vibrant turquoise-colored base. The material appears to be a molded synthetic resin, such as Bakelite, Lucite, or early celluloid, popular in mid-20th-century fashion. The design is highly sculptural, featuring stylized, wavy ridges reminiscent of an Art Deco or Retro-era aesthetic. It is heavily embellished with clear, round-cut rhinestones or pavé-set crystals that follow the contours of the molded shapes, creating a high-contrast sparkle against the teal background. The central element features a wrap-around band or 'knot' design, also set with varying sizes of stones. Measuring approximately 2 to 3 inches in length, the construction shows the stones are inset directly into the resinous body. Evaluation of the condition reveals some visible wear, including what appears to be slightly yellowed adhesive or aged foil backing on several stones, which is common in vintage pieces as they age. There are no immediately visible maker's marks from this angle, but the complexity of the molding suggests a manufactured piece from the 1940s or 1950s. The overall craftsmanship is characteristic of mid-century high-end costume jewelry, where bold colors and geometric textures were used to mimic fine jewels for the burgeoning middle class.