"To-Day" cocktail shaker

Requires Photography

"To-Day" cocktail shaker

Designed by: Kem (Karl Emanuel Martin) Weber (American, born in Germany, 1889–1963)
Manufactured by: Friedman Silver Company (American, active 1908–1960)

designed 1928

Object Place: Brooklyn, New York

Medium/Technique Silver-plated metal, cork (replaced), rosewood

Dimensions Overall: 27.6 x 18.1 x 12.1 x 8.9 cm (10 7/8 x 7 1/8 x 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 in.)

Credit Line The John Axelrod Collection

Accession Number2014.1254a-c

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAmericas

ClassificationsSilver hollowware

DescriptionThe cylindrical, silver-plated cocktail shaker flares gently from the base and is divided into three main sections: the base, the body with the spout, and the rim with the lid. The base is fluted. The smooth-sided central body has horizontal, silverplated bands defining its upper and lower edges. On one side of the body, two silverplated straps project from the horizontal bands to support the columned wood handle. On the opposing side, the rounded spout, which is attached flush against the body of the shaker, projects at an angle above the body of the shaker and is capped with a roundel, also in silver-plate, which is the top of a cork stopper, The domed lid, which is attached to the shaker's body by an inverted cone, is topped with a wood finial and roundel which mimics the finial capping the stopper in the spout.

Marks Base is stamped "TODAY" below which is designer's trademark signature stamp "A Kem Weber / Design" Maker's mark is a " J/ [crown] / F" within a three triangle design/ E. P - N. S / 8E 1 / D [within a circle]"

ProvenanceBy 1984, owned by Alan Moss (dealer), New York, New York; November 10, 1984, sold by Alan Moss to John Axelrod, Boston, Massachusetts; 2008, promised gift of John Axelrod to the Museum; 2014, gift of Axelrod to the MFA. (Accession date: October 29, 2014)