Handheld Bakelite Mirror

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The discovery of this handheld bakelite mirror near the Emmons Amphitheater in the Brody Complex on MSU's campus is a significant find, dating back to the early 20th century. The area where it was found was once the East Lansing city dump from around 1920 until the late 1940s or early 1950s when MSC expanded into the region. Bakelite, an early plastic that began production in the first decade of the 20th century, reached its peak in the 1920s and 1930s before declining throughout the 1950s. This decline was due to new plastics that offered more vibrant colors and a wider range of options, whereas bakelite primarily produced darker tones. However, bakelite played a crucial role in ushering in the "Polymer Age" or the "Age of Plastics," paving the way for modern plastic production. The entire mirror is convexly curved when viewed from the front. Both the glass and bakelite have beveled edges as the only decorative features. A tortoiseshell design is intricately worked into the bakelite, a style that remains popular today. For more information about this fascinating find, check out Mari Isa's blog post.