Before there was an app for that, there was this. A twist of the sleeve, a favorite cocktail, and the recipe appears—ready for an evening worth remembering.
Designed by Napier, this Art Deco cocktail shaker puts fifteen classic drinks at your fingertips. Align the arrow with your selection, and the staggered windows reveal its ingredients and proportions. Between the Sheets, Clover Club, Bronx, and Dry Martini are among the names circling the upper band: a miniature menu from an era when mixing a drink was part of the entertainment.
Its tapered silver-plated body, rounded shoulders, and domed cap give the ingenious mechanism an elegant silhouette. Inside, a golden interior adds another pleasing detail. The shaker separates into four components: inner vessel, rotating outer sleeve, shoulder with integrated strainer, and cap.
Stamped “Patented in Great Britain No. 398119.” Maker unidentified; circa 1930s–1940s.
Measurements
Height: 11 inches / 27.9 cm
Maximum width: 4.25 inches / 10.8 cm
Condition
Good vintage condition with surface scratches and signs of use consistent with age. The gilding on the exterior of the inner shaker is worn, revealing silver-colored areas beneath; this surface is largely concealed when the outer sleeve is in place. There is a slight dent on the cap. Please examine the photographs for details of the finish and wear.
History of the Maker and Design
This shaker belongs to the inventive family of rotating recipe shakers associated with the cocktail culture of the 1930s. It shares its ingenious principle with the American Napier company’s celebrated “Tells-U-How” shakers: turn the sleeve to bring a drink’s recipe into view.
A wonderfully practical expression of Art Deco ingenuity, it brings the pleasures of an earlier cocktail hour into gatherings today—and those still to come.
Ways to Use
Mix a classic cocktail, introduce guests to a forgotten favorite, or make choosing the evening’s drink part of the occasion.
For an out-of-the-box idea, let each guest turn the sleeve and nominate a cocktail for a tasting evening. Between gatherings, display it on a drinks tray or bookshelf alongside vintage cocktail books. A thoughtful gift for a host, design enthusiast, or collector of ingenious objects.
Duty Notice
The majority of our items are sourced in France and Italy and shipped from Italy.
FOR BUYERS RECEIVING SHIPMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES: The policy regarding import duties on goods shipped to the U.S. from the EU has changed multiple times in the past two years, and therefore we cannot predict if you will have to pay a duty to your post man or at your post office to receive your package. We continue shipping to the U.S. so that you still have access to the unique items we source.