A mostly silver-plate cocktail shaker with a U-form dominating the bottom segment, also known as a spun hemisphere, with an angled base prone in an outward direction at the bottom. In an upward direction are two steps inward to a tall cylindrical body resembling a form of a skyscraper with two more steps out and three shallow steps inward leading to a lid with a neck and a red-orange Catalin (polymer) stopper that remains inserted during pouring. The photograph captures the cocktail shaker in a front view against a medium gray background.

See more objects with the tag cocktail set, silver-plated, barware, cocktail.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1928	Work on this object began.
2015	We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Cocktail Shaker, 1928

This is a Cocktail Shaker. It was manufactured by Meriden Silver Plate Company. It is dated 1928. Its medium is silver-plated nickel, catalin. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

This cocktail shaker takes the rigid form of the modern American skyscraper. It rises from its widest and sturdiest point at its base into a series of narrowing setbacks, mimicking the architectural profile of some of New York City’s tallest buildings. This cocktail shaker marks a departure in the production of the Meriden Silver Plate Company, which had previously primarily produced tablewares and flatware in historically-inspired patterns rich with decoration. The pared down simplicity of this shaker exhibits modernism’s penchant for smooth unadorned surfaces. The orange Catalin stopper provides a welcome note of color. This shaker is not only modern in its form but it also makes use of patented technology in the stopper. As John Stuart Gordon has pointed out, the Catalin knob was integral to the function of the shaker as a stopper. When depressed, it sealed the shaker. When pulled up, it unplugged the spout and the contents of the inverted shaker flowed out around it. Therefore, a host could pour a drink without worry of misplacing the stopper.[1] The patent date (January 11, 1927) appears on the underside of the shaker and on the strainer and spout apparatus.

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

Silver Style no. 8E4 Cocktail Shaker
electroplated nickel silver, rosewood.
Gift of George R. Kravis II.
2018-22-30-a,b

Gaiety Cocktail Shaker With Lid And Strainer

Gaiety Cocktail Shaker With Lid And Strainer
metal (chrome plated), enamel.
Gift of Mel Byars.
1991-59-130-a/c

Knickerbocker Cocktail Glass, 1939
blown and cut glass.
Museum purchase from Sir Arthur Bryan Fund.
1988-58-5

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Table Bell Bell
metal, chromium, bakelite (tm).
Gift of Mel Byars.
1991-59-92

Silent Butler (USA)
chromium-plated metal, bakelite.
Gift of Mel Byars.
1991-59-137

Object ID #18475693
cast silver-plated metal.
Gift of Rodman A. Heeren.
1971-92-1-a,b

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 31.8 × 11.4 × 11.4 cm (12 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 in.)

It has the following markings

“meriden s. p. co. / international s. co. [in a rounded arch centering a rampant lion holding an urn] / 378 /48 oz / patented / jan.11.1927,” sans serif, incuse on underside of shaker body; “pat’d jan 11-1927,” incuse on inner rim of strainer and on underside of spout cap

Cite this object as

Cocktail Shaker, 1928; Manufactured by Meriden Silver Plate Company (United States); silver-plated nickel, catalin; H x W x D: 31.8 × 11.4 × 11.4 cm (12 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-46-a,b

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/BKmEX/
Accession Number 2018-22-46-a,b
Object ID 404536715