WHAT ARE THEY?
A hard plastic developed in 1907, Bakelite appeared on the handles of flatware and kitchen utensils in the late 1920s, bringing color and personality to the kitchen.

HOW MUCH WILL I PAY?
Found for 5 cents apiece in the 1980s, a single, solid-color fork or knife can still be bought for $10, making it a perfect fit for a new collector, says Bakelite dealer Barbara Mauzy, author of Bakelite in the Kitchen. Utensils with a checkerboard or polka-dot pattern are extremely rare and sell for more than $200.

DEALER TIP
If you are going to actually use the utensils (and we think you should!), buy pieces that are stainless steel instead of chrome-plated, says dealer Abby Nash. The pieces are marked; you just need to look closely.

MORE TO KNOW
Check the handle of the utensil for cracks or burn marks; these depreciate the piece and will only get worse over time. Found a golden yellow fork or knife? At one time the yellows were white, and black handles were originally blue, changed by oxidation. “Air and sunlight are Bakelite’s enemies,” says Mauzy. If you buff the handle (see how-to in Mauzy’s book, Bakelite in the Kitchen, 2nd edition), the bright white or blue will reappear. Avoid putting your Bakelite in the dishwasher; hand-wash Bakelite. “It’s a labor of love,” says Mauzy.

Need ideas for how to display your favorite collections? We show you lots of fun ways.