An early 20^th century American Art Deco sterling silver cocktail shaker, Connecticut post-1934, probably by Meriden Britannia Co for International Sterling, retailed by Cartier

The design attributed to Lurelle van Arsdale Guild (American 1898-1985)

Of tapering cylindrical form upon a reeded collet foot, the short cylindrical neck section with a stepped lid surmounted by a pull off cap of spherical form with rode sections. Marked underneath with maker’s mark, STERLING, WM226, 3 ½ pints, stamped CARTIER.

Height – 31 cm / 12.25 inches

Weight – 756 grams / 24.31 ozt

“After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, cocktail shakers proliferated. Their use of in films as props to depict the sophistication of café society added to their cachet and popularity. Several shakers introduced in 1934 demonstrated a new simplicity in design and a predilection for basic, static geometric forms, especially the sphere, cylinder, and cone, that resulted in objects quite unlike the cubist-inspired wares of the 1920’s that had relied on fractured planes for effect. A sleek sterling silver “mixer” introduced in 1934 by the Wilcox & Evertsen Fine Arts Division of International sported a spherical finial emblematic of new geometry. The base has the undisputably machine-made “narrow ribbed” or “reeded band” that figured strongly in International’s holloware of the 1930’s and for the most part replaced the stepped bases ubiquitous in the 1920’s. However, a subtly stepped cover was retained. The unusual finial pierced by a tiny fluted rod brings to mind the motif on the Empire bowl in International’s silverplate Gift Ware line designed by Lurelle Guild and also introduced in 1934, and suggests that he had a hand in the design of this shaker. Stern, J. (2006), Modernism in American Silver 20^th century design. New Haven: Yale University Press, p. 152-154.

The mark on this shaker is often attributed to Meriden Britannia Company, but in this case the shape of the "winged phoenix" is different from the recognised Meriden mark and missing of the "m" between the wings.

Given the Wilcox and Evertsen published example in the Dallas Museum of Art. Where in 1896 the company was bought by Meriden Britannia Co and moved to Meriden, CT. This establishes a closer link for the this mark to also me Meriden. In 1898 Meriden Britannia Company ceased to exist as an independent entity and became part of International Silver Company.

This design of cocktail shaker with matching cups and tray was illustrated in an advertisement of International Sterling “Contenders for Your Christmas list” Town and Country 91, Dec 1936