A lovely grape-embossed cocktail shaker, circa 1930s. This shaker is hallmarked "Alpaka Silver", commonly referred to as German Silver or Nickel silver. This shaker is simply gorgeous. Heavier in weight, this shaker is well-crafted and feaures Art Deco-esque etched lines at the top of the shaker as well as on the cap. The lid of the shaker has a gorgeous 3-D or raised grape/leaves embossing. Also a bit unique that the lid of the shaker fits "inside" the body of the shaker (as opposed to most that fit "over" the body of the shaker). The interior of the cap still has its original cork. Truly a stunning cocktail shaker.
A note of Alpaca/Alpaka Silver: Nickel silver has a long history, tracing its origins all the way back to the Qing Dynasty in China. Germany began to imitate China's formulation in 1750, producing several offshoots. Alpaca silver, also known as German silver, was developed in 1823 as the result of a German competition held with the goal of developing an alloy that had the most visual similarity to silver. Although it is not as financially valuable as silver, alpaca silver is a popular material amongst some jewelers and craftsmen.
Measurements: Approximately 9 1/2" tall
Hallmarks: "Alpaka" can be found on the bottom of the shaker along the number "11"
Condition: Very good vintage condition overall with mild signs of age and general wear. Here's a full summary:
1) There's what we refer to as general surface wear (very minor) that can include micro fine scrapes, scratches etc. to the nickel silver exterior (including the bottom of the shaker) from past handling, how it might have been stored, etc.
2) There's also mild surface wear on the bottom exterior
3) The interior is perfectly clean
4) There's mild tarnish (we have not polished this piece)
5) The cap and lid all fit snugly to the shaker
6) The cork inside the cap is in great condition but not "attached" to the top interior of the lid (see photos)
In short, this vintage shaker is in very good vintage condition with minor signs of age/general surface wear. The plating is extremely vibrant and shiny. Truly a stunning mixer that displays beautifully. Cheers!
**Please Note: we typically do not test our shakers for leakage. We offer a variety of vintage shakers (both usable as well as collectible/display only). We are happy to put our shaker through a thorough leakage test (which involves filling it with liquid and rigorously shaking it) -- please message us if you'd like us to test this particular shaker. Cheers!
**On shipping: We take our packaging very seriously and carefully wrap all pieces to ensure safe delivery. If purchasing multiple pieces, we'll combine shipping to a single box (or as few boxes as possible) and will automatically reimburse you for all shipping overages paid.
****Important to note pre-purchase: Buyers, please examine all photos carefully as we cannot accept returns due to the fragile nature (the possibility of breakage when being shipped back) of our vintage/antique pieces. Our items are true vintage pieces that might have manufacturers flaws, flaws from age, or imperfections in general from being vintage. We try to explain the condition/description in an accurate and thorough manner but we ask that you please examine all photos carefully and ask all questions before purchasing an item as we are unable to accept returns due to the risk of breakage. Cheers!