Page 42 - July2011

148 THE NATIONAL 'l3u77on BULLETlN July 2011

CASEIN

BUTTONS

Reviewed by Judy Stopke

This book contains everything you ever wanted to
know about casein-and more. Oh, you've never
been curious about casein? You're in for a surprise.
The colorful pages of Casein Buttons immerses the
reader in the changing fashions and design sensibilities
of each era from the 1920s onward.
Hazel Page's Part One of a promised series on
Early Plastics is packed with information that includes
the history of casein from the early experiments of two
Germans in 1899. In England the trade names were
Erinoid and Lactoid. In 1919 America's Aladinite was
the first name used for a similar product.
The process of manufacturing is described as
$32 (USA) indudes s/h well as details of how the many clever design effects
from UK.
found on buttons and buckles were created. Casein, a
Checks or PayPai thermoset plastic, was primarily extruded into rods,
accepted. then later on it was pressed into sheets. However,
Contact by email: two rare examples of molded casein buttons are
hazelpage@ shown as well as as several buttons that were shaped
virginmedia.com by hot pressing.
Collectors of early plastic buttons will be pleased
to find a full page dedicated to hot needle testing
of casein.
Hazel Page studied fine art and design in England
in the 1950s. Her fashion illustrations coupled with
vintage photographs show the changing styles and
and give readers an understanding of how the buttons
were used-even the 21/2-inch ones!