Back in the day, many manufacturers made and sold versions of glitter laminate. Materials historian Grace Jeffers says that the design was pioneered by Formica — they launched the industry’s first glitter-embedded laminate, “White Sequin,” in 1957. Other laminate companies jumped on the bandwagon and soon enough, versatile and pleasing real-glitter sparkles were covering millions (surely) of countertops across America. Today — a look at a boatload of samples of glitter laminate from personal collection and from our Retro Renovation archives, which together comprise our new “catalog” of the various names for this design… and which includes glitter on plain white and colored papers and later, glitter inclusions applied onto more complex paper designs for even more atomic effects. So far we have found 40 42 examples from companies including Formica, Wilsonart, Textolite and Nevamar.
The names for basic glitter laminate on white:
Formica called it White Sequin — The first sample shown above is a paper reproduction; the ‘glitter’ is ink — not the real deal, a cheaper way to show samples, I presume. I included it to show the graphics and the name — we can guess it’s from 1960 because of the “1-60” printed on the sample. This was just three years after introduction. The second sample is the real melamine-topped Formica White Glitter as it would have been installed on a countertop — you can see the real glitter shining through. Oopsy, my melamine chip originally had printing on it — the logo and pattern name. I made the mistake of aggressively cleaning it with a vintage cleaner I bought on ebay — without testing first — and the cleaner took the inky text right off. You can see the shadowy remainder of a different, later-era (1990s, I believe) Formica logo. Drats. The chip seems otherwise fine, though… Hereforeto — no more cleaning of my vintage laminate hoard, except for soft dusting.
Thank you, Robert, of ElectraChime — he sent me a bunch of these Formica samples — including all the paper samples I show here — for the permanent Retro Renovation collection! I greatly appreciate it!
Above: Textolite called it “White Gold”. Textolite was a General Electric (GE) brand.
Missing from our archive: Wilsonart called it “White Glitter.” Grace Jeffers says that Wilsonart later named it “Lamé.” I am sure they must have had one (see below, when I show all their Glitter on colored papers.)
Above: Arborite called it G.G. on Snow White. I don’t know what G.G. stands for. Grace Jeffers confirmed that G.G. stood for Golden Glitter. Arborite — a Canadian company now owned by Pionite correction: Wilsonart — was the last company to offer glitter laminate — I believe they offered it into the early 2000s — that’s when I obtained this sample from a local store.
Companies that existed back in the day and which may have had glitter laminates:
- Formica
- Wilson Art (now Wilsonart)
- Textolite
- Micarta (the brand of Westinghouse, which in 1979 was still expanding production)
- Consoweld
- Pionite
- Nevamar
- Panelyte
- Arborite (Canadian company, I think)
- … there may be more.
- See this story for the names of all companies selling laminates in the U.S. today.
Good news: Where to buy glitter laminate now being made again:
Now, let’s look at the different “simple glitter” collections and some of their color options. Again, this is not necessarily a complete list — these are just the samples I have in my personal collection and from a big story in 2012.
Formica Sequin in at least four colors:
I have Formica Sequin paper samples in four colors:
Wilsonart’s Glitter laminate in at least 12 colors:
Not from my collection, but from this story we did in 2013 showing a supernova constellation of Wilsonart Glitter colors… They were being sold as key chains for $10 each, and as soon as I published the story, readers snapped ’em up:
- Aqua glitter laminate
- Beige glitter laminate
- Charcoal glitter laminate
- Cocoa glitter laminate
- Coppertone glitter laminate
- Flame glitter laminate
- Frosty pink glitter laminate
- Powder blue glitter laminate
- Pumpkin glitter laminate
- Red glitter laminate
- Wintergreen glitter laminate
Textolite’s Gold came in… how many colors?
- Surely Textolite must have offered this laminate in more than just the plain White Gold. Alas, my sample collection only includes this one colorway.
Formica’s Silversnow Laminate came in at least four colorways:
Oooh, in 1960 — again, just three years after Formica introduced its gold-flecked “Sequin”, it also had introduced a glitter design with denser, smaller, silver flecks — they called it Silversnow. Perhaps the inclusions are mica, rather than glitter? I have four paper sample chips:
Glitter Laminates with deco paper with designs
Formica’s Spindrift came in at least two colors:
Formica’s Spindrift also was in my batch of samples that I date to 1960. It features two additional elements printed on the paper underneath — smudgy-veining + whisperthin cracking-veining. From my paper collection:
- White Spindrift
- Light Aqua Spindrift
Wilsonart’s Satellite laminate came in at least six colors:
Wilsonart’s Satellite was glitter over paper with one additional element, subtle smudgy-veining:
- Beige gold satellite laminate
- Aqua gold satellite laminate
- Frosty pink gold satellite laminate
- Powder blue satellite laminate
- Primrose gold satellite laminate
- White gold satellite laminate
Textolite’s Spungold design came in at least two colors:
The smudgy-veining in my Textolite chips looks strong, more powerful than the Wilsonart’s shown above. I have it in two colorways:
Textolite’s Nugget came in at least two colorways:
Glitter on simple starbursts, nom nom. These samples — which came along with all the melamine samples — were on paper. I speculate: Brand-spanking new, so tucked in, pronto, even before pressed samples were available. Only two colorways on my sample chain:
Textolite’s Twilight came in at least six colorways:
Twilight featured gold or silver glitter — the glitter was not real chunky — over paper that was pretty highly veined. However, I would say that the veining was not realistic, it was stylized… abstract, even. As if to say, “We’re only kinda sorta pretending to mimic marble — this is laminate, after all, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise.”
- Textolite Golden Beige Twilight laminate features two shades of beige veining with gold glitter on top.
- Textolite Silver Gray Twilight laminate features two shades of gray veining with silver glitter.
- Textolite Primrose Twilight laminate, two shades of yellow, gold glitter.
- Textolite Dusty Pink Twilight laminate, two shades of pink, gold glitter.
- Textolight Aqua Twilight laminate, Aqua and green veining, silver glitter.
- Textolite Lavender Twilight laminate, lavender and taupe veining, silver glitter.
Nevamar’s Flair came in at least two colorways:
Above: A pink “Carnation Flair”.
And above: A more neutral Beige Flair.
So there you go. Did your eyes pop out of your head? Did your greedy retro-loving hearts cry, “Gimme! Gimme!”?
Roxane says
Is there any company that still makes something like this ? Or anywhere we can still buy it ?
pam kueber says
Not exactly like these old style laminates, but your comment reminds me I need to do a story on the glitter-style laminates by G-Lam and Decotone Surfaces. Head over to their websites to take a look. Be sure to check whether they are specified for horizontal (countertop) surfaces vs vertical (wall) surfaces — you will want to know this depending on your plans.
Julie says
Ok we are looking to buy a house that has the white spun gold textolite on the walls. Was thinking of painting over it. It has some yellow spots on it.any ideas how to get the walls white again?
Kathy says
I am now 99% sure I have the Textolite Spun Gold which I love; has anyone found a good match currently in production?
I have backsplashes in good condition, but the surfaces are dinged and worn, especially around the sink. I wondered about keeping the back splash and updating the rest.
Thank you so much for this and other research!
pam kueber says
There is nothing like this on the market today….
Joe Felice says
The glitters, in all their permutations were hugely popular back in the ’50s. As I recall, the colorful ones were used more in bathrooms, without any edging. Marbelized patterns were also very popular.
Rick Hamilton says
I have recently purchased a 1950 home. It has two newer additions but the main house is constructed of Weldtex walls and ceilings. The kitchen has a plastic laminate on the walls and ceiling. There is a label on one sheet that says “Soffitto”. We are updating the house and will have to demo much of this ” era ” building materials to replace unsafe wiring and asbestos insulation. It really is like walking into a time capsule. The Weldtex is a natural finish and hold in odors. We have painted some of the interior walls to lighten up the room and eliminate the “old folks home” odor. It is very difficult to paint as the grooves and natural wood really absorb the paint. Cutting in to the base out crown moulding had to be done by “pushing” the brush bristles into the grooves that go under the trim. Very tedious. Your website was educational in giving me names and histories of the products.
Jeff says
I’m in love with these! Especially the Gold Nugget!
Have you seen Arpa’s silvery fleck laminates? Arpa product numbers 173-179 at http://products.arpaindustriale.com/
Haven’t looked at an actual sample, but from what I can tell online it has the metallic sparkle quality that some of these vintage laminates had.
Alas, no gold glitter, but if they can do it in silver maybe there’s hope after all?
pam kueber says
I can’t figure out how to use their website, alas.
Jeff says
Their website is totally confusing. I had to clear all the filters and clear the location for the silver fleck colors to show up. If your location is set to North America, those colors get hidden. They are in the “colour evolution” family, which can be selected from the left column. Really, they’re remarkably similar to the vintage metallic fleck laminates, and worth the effort to navigate to them! Wish I could find a better website to share here!
Jeff says
http://products.arpaindustriale.com/sites/default/files/img-prodotto/9175_R_0.jpg
pam kueber says
Thanks Jeff !
maria says
When I was a little girl our neighbor gave me a pink dressing table. It was sorta a mini version of the deco waterfall style with the round mirror, but it was all pink, with pink glitter laminate on top. I loved it so…and tossed a fit when I came home from school one day to find out mom gave it away.
john says
Love it!!
Do you know if glitter linoleum is still manufacture, and if so, by who?
pam kueber says
You mean laminate, right? The answer: No one is making it right now, at least not in North America.
Sandy Fitzgerald says
My kitchen countertops are white with gold glitter and I LOVE them. I have people asking me all the time why I don’t change them out…but there’s no way. Even if somewhere down the line I get new cabinets, as I need to, I’m keeping the countertops. They’re awesome.
pam kueber says
You are very lucky! Those are The Most Desirable countertops for Retro Renovators!
Mary Elizabeth says
Yes, Sandy, you are lucky that your countertops have not been damaged, as mine were, and you can keep them. Be careful, though, about replacing the cabinets. Kitchen construction was different in the 50s and 60s. If the cabinets were built in place, the laminate may be glued right on the top of them and you may not be able to separate the counters from the cabinets. If that is the case, however, you could consider repairing and refinishing your lower cabinets rather than replacing them. You can also replace the doors and/or insert drawers into the cabinets, replace the metal edging, and otherwise spruce your kitchen up around the lovely laminate.
Carol Karst-Wasson says
I have a 1957 lake cottage with a “white sequin” bar counter top. The bathroom and shower surround are the same formica…I am building new kitchen countertops and want to know where I can purchase this style or something similar?
pam kueber says
no longer produced… no good proxies that I know of. for all our laminate research see our Kitchen Help/Countertops subcategory.