Art Deco Cocktail Shaker, Chrome with Cherry Red Bakelite Handle, American, 1930s
Art Deco Cocktail Shaker, Chrome with Cherry Red Bakelite Handle, American, 1930s
Individually photographed · Condition noted · Secure checkout
Story
This is what Prohibition-era hosting looked like when it was done right.
A tall, tapered Art Deco cocktail shaker in polished chrome with a cherry red Bakelite handle — the kind of object that turned mixing a drink into a small piece of theater. The skyscraper silhouette and stepped pedestal base are pure 1930s American design, when even the most functional barware was built to look like a Manhattan skyline in miniature.
Sourced in New York, this shaker is unmarked but consistent with the better American makers of the era — Manning-Bowman, Chase, Farber Bros. — who built cocktail accessories with the same care given to architecture. The threaded spout cap is intact, the two-part lid seals cleanly, and the Bakelite handle has held its deep cherry color without fading or cracking.
This is a working shaker, not a display piece — but it earns its place on a bar cart whether you use it or not.
Details
American, 1930s. Chrome-plated steel with a cherry red Bakelite handle and brass fittings.
Condition
Very good vintage condition. Chrome bright with light surface wear consistent with age. Bakelite handle pristine. Threaded spout cap functions. Two-part lid intact and seals properly.
Dimensions
Height: ~12"
Base diameter: ~3.5"
Sourcing Note
The weekend before I found this shaker, my husband and I had hosted a cocktail party at home. His vodka martinis were very much in demand, and he spent most of the evening making batch after batch in the small shaker we already owned. At some point I remember thinking: we need a bigger one.
And then, almost on cue, this appeared. I loved the cherry red Bakelite handle immediately, but what really made it unusual was the scale. It has all the sleek, timeless confidence of 1930s Art Deco barware, but it is also genuinely built for a crowd.
If you are hosting a larger gathering — or simply have thirsty friends like mine — this is the shaker you want. Sometimes the universe is very specific about what it sends your way.