Dining IN | London
Dining IN | London
A VERY LARGE AMERICAN SILVER-PLATED, BRASS AND COPPER GORHAM COCKTAIL SHAKER, CIRCA 1917
Lot Closed
August 12, 01:52 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A VERY LARGE AMERICAN SILVER-PLATED, BRASS AND COPPER GORHAM COCKTAIL SHAKER, CIRCA 1917
In the form of a first world war 18-pound shrapnel shell, base plate taken from the percussion end of an actual shell dated 19th January 1917, upper section forming the cocktail shaker with sieve and covers engraved with ‘time delay fuze’, inscribed Fac-Simile/18 pounder shrapnel shell and Patent applied for/In America and Foreign Countries, lower section fitted with detachable mount holding 4 glass cocktail beakers
57cm, 22½in high
To view Shipping Calculator, please click here
In excellent overall condition
The Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island began producing their 'Shrapnel Cocktail Sets' during 1915. In January the following year select retailers all over the United States were advertising this very newest 'Novelty of War Time, A Sideboard Surprise With Four Glasses . . . It is a facsimile in every detail of an 18-pounder shrapnel shell – its terrors slightly modified by the four cocktail glasses to be found in the silver plated plunger within. . . . The lower part of the Server consists of an actual 18-lb. brass shell discarded by one of the great ammunition factories. . . . With each Shrapnel Cocktail Set is given a booklet with full instructions for making the ''shrapnel,'' ''Biltmore,'' ''High Explosive,'' ''Cascade,'' ''Lone Tree'' and other cocktails.' (The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, Friday, 21 January 1916, p. 3, advertisement)