#incolay

I never posted a picture of this because I was debating whether or not it was genuine Incolay without the sticker, but I was able to positively ID it by a incolay copyright under the also pretty identifiable hinge.

Incolay was an acronym portmanteau? meaning 'in layers of color' each piece was unique in color due to the pigments being obtained from ground mineral aggregates. Genuine Incolay Stone was a product made in California in 30's through 50's. Incolay stone is a complex mix of quartz based mineral like Ross Quartz, Lapis, Malachite, Sardonyx, Carnelian, Onyx, or Banded Agates combined with a resin like coupling agent.

This one is obviously made with Rose Quartz. The white is then hand inlaid and the variegated background is hand stratified. They made a wide variety of products from belt buckles and jewelry to plates, clocks, and trinket boxes.

Founder Carl Romanelli moved on to make lamps and plates for another business he started, Metlox, and made a few life-sized statues for a temple and some churches all across California.

(If you wanted to go back even father, these shapes were based on antique French cameo style trinket boxes)