Vintage Mahogany Brown Faturan Bakelite Bead Necklace – circa 1930s–1950s.

Vintage Mahogany Brown Faturan Bakelite Bead Necklace – circa 1930s–1950s.

A marvelous and rare example of early Faturan Bakelite artistry, this vintage extra length strand features beautifully hand-shaped oval beads in a deep mahogany brown tone, enriched with subtle swirling marbled patterns. When held to a strong light, the beads reveal an inner glow of fiery orange and amber, a hallmark feature of authentic Faturan phenolic resin that has gracefully oxidized over time.

Originally crafted between the 1930s and 1950s, strands such as this were prized across the Levant, Egypt, and Ottoman-influenced regions for their resemblance to amber and their warm, organic aesthetic. The Faturan material itself was an early phenolic resin invented in Germany in the early 1900s, later popularized by the Syrian merchant Faturan, whose name became synonymous with this rare compound. Its ability to be hand-turned, carved, and polished to a gemstone-like finish made it the favored choice for luxury prayer beads (misbaha/tesbih) and export jewelry pieces throughout the mid-20th century.

Each bead in this necklace bears witness to decades of oxidation — the once-translucent red-orange resin now transformed into a rich, earthy mahogany hue with darkened undertones and glowing inner life. The mixture of bead sizes and organic patina suggest traditional hand-drilling and stringing, likely by a regional craftsman using available European phenolic stock from the pre-war period.

Faturan was among the earliest synthetic resins, blending phenolic resin with natural fillers like amber dust or dyes to emulate precious materials. Production ceased mid-century, leaving remaining stock as highly collectible. Today, these pieces represent an important chapter in early plastics history and Middle Eastern trade craft, bridging European innovation and Eastern artistry.

Comparable authentic Faturan strands of similar tone, size, and patina range from:
R4,000 – R8,000 (≈ $200 – $400 USD) in private collector markets.

Measurements : The necklace with a length of 81cm.The largest bead measures 3cm x 2.2cm and smallest bead 1cm x 7mm.The necklace with a weight of 67grams.