Posted 13 years ago
Arisellon
(86 items)
An Art Deco cocktail arrangement of chrome, silver, and black.
The geometric black tray is Micarta, a plastic laminate similar to bakelite, produced by Westinghouse in the 1930's. The plastic tray is inset with anodized and dyed aluminum, streamlined shapes. The design is often attributed to industrial designer, Donald Dohner. Dohner was the art director a Westinghouse's engineering department around 1932. He applied the first non-Industrial uses for Micarta, which was previously used for electrical component insulation. He started with Westinghouse as a design consultant in 1926, teaching there as an "Art Engineer", and was hired as Director of Art in the engineering department of its Heavy Industry Division in 1929. He and his staff of eight contributed to the design of 128 products, including electric ranges, diesel-electric locomotives, water coolers, and ash trays. These trays were occasionally included with a purchase of Westinghouse appliances during the 1930's. (See Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, November 16, 1932 for a reference.) Similar trays for Westinghouse have been attributed to industrial designer George Switzer:
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/20th-century-design-n09365/lot.8.html
The sleek, rare conical cocktail shaker was designed and patented in 1934 by Emil Schuelke for The Napier Company in Meriden, Connecticut. It is silver plated. The streamline design is truly modern by even today's standards. Schuelke also designed the famous Napier penguin cocktail shaker.
The chrome conical cocktail cups are from the Evercraft giftware line of the Everedy Company of Frederick, Maryland (circa 1930's).
The chrome J-shaped candle holders are from an unknown manufacturer, but resemble Chase. They offset some original Zeppelin artwork--all circa 1930's.
