VTG Early Bakelite Butterscotch egg yolk Chunky Bead 18” Necklace. 1920S.-1940.

This vintage bead necklace has the unmistakable coloring and smooth texture of Bakelite, and just to be certain, it passes the Simichrome test, and smells like camphor, or quoting from a website specializing in Bakelite identification--"a distinct chemical odor similar to formaldehyde"--like smell after being rubbed. The beads are stunning, and in some cases you can see a bit of marbling. The color variation is striking and makes this more valuable. There are no breaks in the twine that hold it together nicely. The hand patina on them is quite nice. These are circa 1940s, with a spring clasp, which sprung onto the market in the 1920s.