Category Archives: Collectibles

Napier Cocktail Shaker – Weekend Find!

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This weekend I travelled down to New Jersey, with a friend and co-worker to pick up a small collection of 16mm films (we work in a film archive). After we were finished Chris, Deb (my co-worker) and I decided to hit a local antique store. It was already mid-afternoon, so I thought about what is relatively close and where Chris and I haven’t been to in awhile, it turned out to be Grist Mill Antiques Center in Pemberton, N.J. The Grist Mill is two floors jammed packed with antiques and collectibles, it is a rare visit when Chris and I leave empty handed. This visit we came across a silver plated Napier “Tells You How” Drink Mixer. I already own the Pottery Barn reproduction version, but this was the first time that I had ever seen the original version. Designed by Le Roy H. Fontan, the patent was applied for in September, 1932. Even though prohibition was still the law of the land, it was obvious that Franklin Roosevelt was going to win the November election and that repeal would soon follow. The “Tells You How” Drink Mixer went on sale at Sak’s Fifth Avenue in time for the holiday season of 1932 for $7.50 ($130.00 in today’s money). The shaker has a rotating outer sleeve to reveal the recipes for 15 now classic cocktails, such as Dry Martini, Side Car, Dubonnet and Between the Sheets. The silver plate was very tarnished, but a session with some semichrome polish and a bit of elbow grease made the shaker come back to shiny life. The Napier “Tells You How” Drink Mixer is a very welcome addition to my Deco Cocktail Shaker collection and one of my best weekend finds in a while.

Anthony

Kensington, Deco Aluminum Gift Ware

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Kensington Compass Platter, brass detail.

Kensington Compass Platter, brass detail.

 

The Chase, Brass and Copper Company was in the business of making brass and copper pipes, nails and toilet bowl floats, Revere and Alcoa both were in the business of cookware (pots and pans). In the early 1930’s as the depression deepened to its lowest point, Chase decided to expand its sales base and go into the giftware business. Giftware that spanned the gamut from smoking items to cocktail shakers, electric buffet servers and lamps. Made of chrome and copper, their giftware line was such a success that Revere and Alcoa followed a few years later with their own lines. Revere, like Chase made their items of chrome, brass and copper. Alcoa, an aluminum company had developed a new, special type of aluminum for their giftwares; they christened the new line Kensington, after the town the company was in, New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Introduced in the fall of 1934 the Kensington line was modern with classic accents, usually in brass. All the items were created by industrial designer Lurelle Guild. Here is the Stratford comport and Thistle dish, both of which were among the first items when Kensington hit the market in October of 1934.

 

If you go to antique shows, antique malls or stores one often comes across giftwares made by Chase. Chase collectibles command pretty high prices, with items made by Revere not that far behind. But pieces of Kensington can often be bought for a fraction of the cost of Chase and Revere. The irony of this is, in the 1930’s Kensington was the most expensive of the giftware lines. I think that most people who sell Kensington at flea markets, thrift stores and antiques stores believe these are mid-century items and do not realize their 1930’s deco pedigree. Plus the fact that it is aluminum, a big selling point 80 years ago, is seen a cheap alternative to the chrome and copper of Chase and Revere. Here are some close up details of a few of the pieces in my collection –

 

 

Other Kensington items from my collection, all bought for less than $15.00 – –

Mayfair Tea set

Thistle Dish – Aztec Platter

So the next time you are at a flea market looking for a genuine deco piece, don’t pass up these shiny and very affordable items.

Anthony & Chris

Compass Platter