Who invented polymer clay?
One of the earliest forms of polymer clays was invented by Robert Bakelund as he searched for a synthetic form of shellac. Natural polymers include shellac, made from Laq beetles, tortoise shell, amber and celluloid and viscose rayon which are made from tree resins. Bakelund’s work resulted in the formulation of Bakelite. It was extremely popular with designers and had an early form of polymer clay commercially available in kits, but the phenol base of uncured Bakelite was flammable and these were discontinued. Todays clays are non flammable and certified as non-toxic art supplies. FIMO polymer clay was first made popular by Maureen “Fifi” Kruse, daughter of well known German doll designer Kathe Kruse in the early 1940s. Though the Kruse family did not invent the substance that was offered to them for use in the doll making factory, Fifi used it in making miniatures and mosaics, and it became very popular. The compound was later sold to Eberhardt-Faber in the 1960’s and they named it a
