If you've ever picked up a crystal-clear handbag, a chunky bangle that glowed like candy, or a pair of sparkly mid-century glasses and wondered what they were made of, there's a good chance the answer is Lucite. Here's what it is, how to recognize it, and how to tell it apart from its plastic cousins.
Our brown marbled Lucite folding lorgnette is in the shop now for $45, and it's the only one we have.
See the lorgnette →
What Is Lucite?
Lucite is a trade name for acrylic, a clear, rigid plastic (polymethyl methacrylate, if you want the science). DuPont introduced it in the 1930s, around the same time the same material was sold as Plexiglas. During World War II, acrylic went into airplane canopies and windshields because it was clear, strong and lighter than glass. After the war, all that know-how turned toward fashion and the home, and Lucite became the glamorous plastic of the 1950s and 1960s.
What Collectors Find in Lucite
- Handbags: the famous 1950s box purses, in pearlized, marbled, tortoiseshell and crystal-clear styles
- Jewelry: bangles, chunky beads, "confetti" pieces with glitter or shells sealed inside, and carved "reverse carved" pieces
- Accessories: compacts, hair combs, eyeglass frames and folding lorgnettes
- Home decor: trays, picture frames, vanity sets, lamps and the clear furniture of the 1970s
How to Recognize Lucite
- Clarity: clear Lucite is very clear and bright, almost like glass, but warmer and lighter in the hand
- Weight: lighter than glass, heavier and denser-feeling than cheap modern plastic
- Inclusions: glitter, confetti, shells, flowers or pearlized swirls sealed inside are classic Lucite looks
- Sound: tap two pieces together and Lucite gives a duller clunk than Bakelite's deeper clack
- No smell: Lucite has no real odour, even when warmed by rubbing
- Marbling: many mid-century pieces are made in marbled browns, tortoiseshell or pearlized tones
Lucite vs. Bakelite vs. Celluloid
- Bakelite is opaque or translucent rather than truly clear, feels heavy, and gives off a chemical smell when rubbed warm. Learn more in our Bakelite guide.
- Celluloid is older (late 1800s to the 1930s), very light, often shows ivory-like graining or layers, and can smell faintly of camphor. See our celluloid guide.
- Lucite is the clear or glassy one, with no smell, and is mostly mid-century and later.
Never use a hot pin to test a plastic. It damages the piece, and celluloid is highly flammable.
Lucite or Cast Resin?
A lot of what's sold today as "vintage Lucite" is really cast resin, usually polyester resin poured into a mould with shells, flowers or glitter mixed in. In the 1960s and 70s, American makers like New Trends Industries turned out resin wall plaques, ashtrays and paperweights packed with abalone shell, often with a gold foil label on the back. Resin is a little heavier than acrylic, can have a slightly yellowed tone with age, and the back is often painted, flocked or left rough from the mould. Both are mid-century plastics, and collectors happily use the word Lucite for both, so a good listing will tell you which one it is.
See the difference in person: Lucite and its cousins in the shop
Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
Caring for Lucite
- Wipe with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap; dry right away
- Avoid alcohol, acetone and harsh cleaners, which can cause cloudiness or fine cracks called crazing
- Keep it out of hot cars and direct sun
- Light surface scratches can often be softened with a plastic polish made for acrylic
For more cleaning tips, see How to Clean and Care for Vintage Finds.
A Lucite Treasure in the Shop
Our vintage Lucite folding lorgnette glasses are a perfect example: brown marbled Lucite, aurora borealis rhinestones, stamped Hong Kong, and folded neatly into their own handle. For the resin side of the family, see our 1969 New Trends Industries abalone seahorse wall plaques.
Keep browsing:
Vintage accessories →Mid-century jewelry →Trinkets & oddities →
Keep reading: What Is Bakelite? · What Is Celluloid? · What Is Thermoset Plastic?
Did your mother or grandmother have a Lucite purse, a glittery bangle or a sparkly pair of glasses? Tell us what you remember. We'd love to hear about it.