Vtg. LEA STEIN Cream and Black Swirl Cellulose Acetate Bangle Bracelet

Lea Stein creation of laminated cellulose acetate swirl bangle bracelet. Colors: cream and black. Measurement: 2.5" across on the inside. Condition: excellent, like new. Lea Stein, now now 88 years old, is a French artist and designer of accessories, known for her compressed acetate buttons, brooches, and bracelets. She is hailed as the most innovative and creative designer of plastic jewelry of the 20th century. Stein entered the fashion industry in 1957, designing and creating primarily in textiles. By 1965, she developed an interest in plastic. She snd her husband, a chemist, developed a process of layering very thin sheets of cellulose to form a "sandwich" of plastic. It was then baked for hours, and after cooling, it was molded into various shapes. It is widely known that this process could take up to six months until the final designed piece was completed. This bracelet, as most of her designs, are of the art deco style. Thus, her designs are often mistakenly said to be from the 20s. Not so. This stunning bracelet is probably from the late 60s. Lea Stein's designs are coveted and eagerly sought-after.