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“SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE”

Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century

By Donald-Brian Johnson

This Month’s Feature—
SHAKEN OR STIRRED? TOASTING PROHIBITION’S 100TH

Let’s be clear about this: 100 years ago, during most of the Art Deco instance, mentions Chase beverage trays treated with a “lacquer which makes
era, homes didn’t have bars. After all, from 1920, until 1933 and the them impervious to the disastrous effects of some popular liquids”. They
repeal of Prohibition, the purchase of liquor was illegal in the United weren’t talking about Ovaltine.
States. Out of necessity, at-home imbibers became better acquainted
But, as the proliferation of bootleggers and with the actual tools of the bartender’s trade.
rumrunners during the 1920s and early ‘30s After Prohibition finally gurgled its last, this
attests, the fluids just kept flowing. Where were burgeoning market for bar essentials remained,
all those customers coming from? Gangster-run and giftware makers jumped into the fray.
nightclubs? Back-street speakeasies? Well, sure. Consumers were treated to a heady—and, at
But plenty of ordinary folk didn’t mind bending long last legal—brew of drinking accessories.
the law a bit either, in the interests of private Drinking buddies could now debate—openly—
consumption. What better way to put some zip the merits of Kensington’s “Coldchester Cocktail
into at-home entertaining, than with a bit of Shaker” (“cleverly fitted with cork”) versus the
under-the-table bubbly? Chase “Gaiety” (“its entirely modern and snug
Manufacturers responded to this practice inner sleeve prevents leakage”). Manufacturers
by turning out items that could serve a were naturally overjoyed. “For the first summer of
wide variety of purposes—including, Repeal”, crowed a 1934 Chase Brass & Copper Co.
(if you knew what you were looking barware ad, “eager hands reach for Chase.”
for), the purpose of most pertinent interest. During the heyday of Art Deco, the line of
There were portable “serving carts” sparkling metal housewares produced by Chase,
(with the all-important note, “can and such contemporaries as Kensington,
be padlocked”). These could be Napier, and Hagerstrom made entertaining
“noiselessly rolled out with all the at home both affordable and chic. Thanks
fixings”. . .and just as noiselessly rolled to the Depression, money was in short
back, into an unobtrusive dining room supply but thanks to these firms, there
or sitting room corner. There were ice was no shortage of good taste.
buckets. Ice crushers. Ice strainers. And, On other fronts, colorful glassware
such a host of oversize “water pitchers” and ceramics jockeyed for space with
and jumbo “water goblets” that it seemed shiny metals on the shelves of home bars.
most 1930s consumers must have lived McKee Glass brought out the “Bottoms-
within gasping distance of Death Up Tumbler”, a racy “nudie”
Valley. SHOWN: Top- Kensington “Coldchester Wine Cooler”, dating from 1935. According to the number that was a top-seller
Even prior to Repeal, Kensington catalog, “for those wines which must be iced, the Coldchester adds the last touch with the college crowd. More
manufacturers had tacitly of finesse”. 10-1/4” h. ($250-275) formal were Morgantown’s “Top
acknowledged that some of their Left- Muddled or mixed? Chase offered both: the “Old-Fashioned Cocktail Muddlers” (designed Hat” cocktail glasses, with a
for crushing cocktail fruit), and the leaf-tipped “Iced Drink Mixers”. They’re pictured in a pair of
product line was put to other than “Old-Fashioned Cocktail Cups”. ($40-50/set of four; cups, $25-35 each) dapper top-hatted gent on each
intended uses. The July, 1930 Right- Ribbed amber glass decanter by McKee, with open center. ($300-350) stem.
issue of The Gift and Art Shop, for Continued >

Just for water? Really? A plethora of Chase pitchers (and one mug).
A tip of the hat: Morgantown “Top Hat” cocktail glasses in varied colors. From left: “Tavern Pitcher” (10-1/4” h.; $230-250); “Salem Water Pitcher” (9-3/4” h.;
(crystal, $30-40; cobalt, ruby, green, $100-150; others, $60-80 each) $130-150); “Cheshire Mug” (4” h.; $30-40); “Arcadia Water Pitcher” (7-1/4” h.; $55-65).