Sellex bakelite planter
made in Sydney, Australia c.1940s
This is a rare, rare item – a bakelite planter [one puts one’s potted plant inside.] Rare because not many bakelite planters have survived to this day and age- this is the only one I’ve seen thus far. And rare because ‘end-of-day’ bakelite wasn’t normally used for items this large.
End-of-day bakelite, you’ll remember from avid reading of my previous posts, was produced at the end of the day [strangely enough] when all the left over bits of bakelite were thrown into the mix. Because bakelite is cast [rather than moulded] it allowed a variety of colours to be added together. As you can see from the planter, the left over colours were thoughtfully placed in the mix, creating quite lovely patterns.
With the planter, but not for sale [due to sentimental reasons] are a series of end-of-day ‘samples’. These samples are drilled, suggesting they were hung together, to provide a guide to the end-of-day mixture of colours.
The green and white planter was made by Sellex, and it is embossed with ‘Sellex no 123 REGD’ on it’s underside. I know its provenance as one of my horticulture students gave it to me, knowing I love bakelite and plants. It’s in excellent condition, having never actually been used as a planter; and I am very reluctantly parting with it.
The bakelite planter is for sale: $AUD145
I love these colors — especially the seafoam green
thanks mr muscle- i think your colour description is very apt; totally seaform!
Hi my name is Jade I collect the harlequinware end of day plastics I actually think your samples may be coasters for some cups that I have as they are exactly the same colours! I would love to talk to you about the plastics feel free to email me at jadelizzy@hotmail.com.au. Cheers.
Hi, please feel free to contact me I have been collecting the harlequin end of day items and I think the small round samples that you described actually might of been used as coasters for some cups I have that are exactly the same colours!!! Would love to hear from you, cheers, Jade.
hi jade- I will contact you to discuss! thanks for the invitation.