“Gorham Artillery Shell Cocktail Shaker”, Circa 1915
This 1915 Artillery Shell Cocktail Shaker was made by the Gorham Silver Smith Company. Gorham silver was founded in Providence, RI in 1931 by master craftsman, Jabez Gorham.Gorham was known as one of the most highly regarded manufacturers of sterling silver plate in the United Staes during the 19th century. This piece is stamped with manufacturers mark at the base of this piece for authenticity. What makes this piece interesting is that it is in the form of a shrapnel. Shrapnel were anti-personnel artillery munitions which carried numerous individual bullets close to the target and then ejected them to allow them to continue along the shell’s trajectory and strike the target individually. British officer, Major- General Henry Shrapnel was the one who culminated the design of a new type of artillery shell. The idea was that this piece was crafted to resemble a WWI- era eighteen pend strapnel shell. This Cocktail shaker is rare due to it being one of the only few that has all its original remaining parts. The shaker is one of the tallest ever produced, and as a drink making kit, it is quite a model of efficiency and style. This stamped 18 pound shrapnel is most collectable and highly regarded cocktail shakers. As far as materials involved, It has a brass base that serves as a container. Brass.copper middle/silver plate with an Art Deco fascination because of the craftsmanship and rich materials used.
