Celluloid

DEFINITION

A marketing name for the first synthetic plastic, celluloid looks like elephant ivory. One of the first uses was in 1876 with billiard ball production. Later, plastics were acceptable unto themselves instead of serving as an imitator of more "valuable" products. Source: Ralph Mayer, "A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques"<br><br>One of the earliest invented plastics, celluloid is used for photographic films. It is a cellulose nitrate which is tough and flammable, generally obtained from wood pulp.(pr. SEL-y&#601;-loyd)Examples of works incorporating celluloid: Antoine Pevsner (French, born Russia, 1886-1962), Mask, 1923, celluloid and metal, 33 x 20 x 20 cm, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. See Constructivism.