Acrylic
The synthetic polymer polymethyl methacrylate (acrylic) was developed in 1928.
While most acrylic items are often referred to as lucite or plexiglas,
Lucite is the brand name of the polymer developed by DuPont
and Plexiglas is the brand name of the Rohm & Haas polymer.
Each manufacturer calls it by their own trade name such as:
Lucite, Plexiglas, Polycast, Perspex, Acreylex, Acrylite, among others.
Acrylic was used in construction of war materials in the 1940s
and flourished in fashion jewelry and handbag designs in the 1940s and 50s.
While there were some early designs in furniture and accessories,
acrylic became extremely popular in the 1960s and 70s.
Helena Rubinstein’s acrylic bed via Life CIRCA 1941
Acrylic use in furniture, lighting, and accessories became FAB in the 1960s and 70s
thanks to creative and innovative designers including
Neal Small, Charles Hollis Jones, Dorothy Thorpe,
and Mark Eckman for Karl Springer, among many others.
Charles Hollis Jones Showroom via Modernism CIRCA 1971
Acrylic is a beautiful and versatile material.
It is naturally transparent and clear, although it can be tinted.
Acrylic is much clearer than glass and does not have a green edge like glass,
providing a clean look.
While glass reflects light, the light travels through acrylic
giving the visual impression that no space is lost.
Acrylic pieces demand excellent design and fabrication
because it will show every flaw.
Since its beginnings in early Mid-Century design,
acrylic has been constantly reintroduced.
It is clearly VINTAGE
at CIRCA WHO
item # A1012
Item # A1020
Item # 9429
Item #9379
Item #9947