Catalin is a trade name for a cast phenolic resin, a type of early plastic chemically related to Bakelite, produced by the American Catalin Corporation from the late 1920s. Unlike Bakelite, which needed fillers and was usually dark in colour, Catalin was cast without fillers, so it could be made in vivid translucent and opaque colours and marbled effects.
Catalin was used during the 1930s and 1940s for jewellery, including bangles, brooches and pendants, as well as cutlery handles, napkin rings, dice, games pieces, pens, desk accessories and the cases of colourful radios that are now among the most sought-after plastic objects of the period. Pieces were cut, carved, polished and sometimes laminated from cast rods and sheets. Over time exposure to light and air causes many Catalin colours to change, so that white often turns to butterscotch and some blues turn green. Collectors value strong original colour, deep carving and an absence of cracks, as the material can shrink and become brittle with age. Because the term is often used loosely for any phenolic plastic, it is wise to treat identification with care, and to avoid exposing pieces to heat or harsh cleaning agents.
