Set of 24 golden brass and yellow pearly bakelite Galalithe cheese cutlery 1920-30

This beautiful set of antique cheese cutlery is made of pearly yellow galalith. Preserved in its case, this service is composed of 12 knives and 12 forks with gilded brass blades and forks. Galalith is one of the first plastics obtained at the beginning of the 20th century by mixing casein (milk protein) with formaldehyde and various dyes. This first artificial polymer was widely used at the beginning of the last century in the manufacture of buttons, cutlery, jewelry, pens, cigarette holders, and electrical equipment. This hard and silky material was worked manually: it was not molded, but produced in slabs, sticks, or tubes and was polished for its shiny appearance. These are dessert cutlery, perfect for starters, desserts, or cheese - they measure 16 and 17 cm. In good condition, they have scratches from use, as well as oxidation of the gilded metal.