Lot (2) Antique 1900's galalith plastic oval carved beads 25mm

Lot (2) Vintage Antique 1900's early galalith plastic hand carved geometric beads. These are molded by hand before being died and hand carved. These are collectible or museum pieces or can be used for fashion design, sewing and crafting.

Size: 25mm 1"
Material: Plastic.
Year: Vintage 1900's
Condition: Authentic vintage condition. 
Quantity: 2 from the lot

Casein plastics were introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, their starting material being the protein in cows milk, precipitated by the action of the enzyme rennin. The material readily takes a surface dye, so coloured items can be quickly made from pale coloured stock items. 

On July 15th 1899, a patent for "plastic compositions" was taken out in Germany. The patent was taken up by firms in Germany (Vereinigten Gummivarenfabriken, at its factory in Harburg) and in France by Pellerin and Orosdi (Compagnie Francaise de la Galalithe, at Levallois Perret). The product was introduced under the trade name Galalith and was first shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900. A lot of development work was still required to produce a stable material, and the two companies merged in 1904 to form the International Galalith Gesellschaft Hoff and Company with a new factory in Harburg.