Large Bakelite Bowl by BTKI Gent, Belgium 1930s

A vintage bakelite bowl bt belgisch textiel- en kunststoffen instituut (btki) gent, belgium 1930s - 1940s. For documentattion on a similar bowl: https: //www.industriemuseum.be/nl/collectie-item/ronde-kom. Leo hendrik baekeland (1863-1944) was a belgian-born chemist who invented bakelite, the first true synthetic plastic. Patented in 1907, bakelite was revolutionary for its non-flammability, electrical resistance, and moldability. It quickly found widespread use in everything from electrical components to jewelry, becoming a hallmark of early 20th-century design. This bowl is a tangible piece of that history.