About this artwork
An overt allusion to New York City’s skyline, the “Manhattan” cocktail set represents the 1930s fascination with urbanity and modernity. The tall, cylindrical cocktail shaker and stemmed cups that echo the shape and design of the shaker cap were sold with Norman Bel Geddes’s stepped serving tray to create a plazalike platform on which the cocktail service could be arranged like architectural elements. Although conceived as part of a set, the tray was retailed by Revere Copper and Brass, a company established by the Boston silversmith Paul Revere, a year before the shaker and goblets were released in 1936. The shaker seen here is the second of two versions and was advertised as “party-size” because of its slightly larger dimensions.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of the Americas
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Artist
- Norman Bel Geddes (Designer)
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Title
- Manhattan Cocktail Set
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Place
- Rome (Object made in)
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Date
- Made 1939–1941
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Medium
- Chrome-plated brass
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Inscriptions
- Each piece struck on bottom: Revere / Rome, NY
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Dimensions
- Tray: 1.5 × 37 × 29.3 cm (5/8 × 14 5/8 × 11 9/16 in.); Shaker: 33.4 × 8.1 × 8.5 cm (13 3/16 × 3 1/4 × 3 3/8 in.); Goblets (each, irregular): 11.3 × 6.4 × 6.4 cm (4 1/2 × 2 9/16 × 2 9/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by Charles C. Haffner III
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Reference Number
- 2005.50.1-8
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
