Flask
Decorative Arts and Design
On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
The vegetable-shaped salt and pepper shakers and the curvilinear flask are splendid examples of the Aesthetic Movement style, which appeared strikingly new and modern to consumers at the time. The form of the shakers was inspired by realistic Japanese metal objects with which Americans were just becoming familiar, and their maker used a newly invented process to patinate the silver to resemble weathered copper. The irregular, ergonomic contour and dense Southwestern landscape of the flask would have also seemed quite daring to the original purchaser. In contrast, the all-over, hard-edged design of the later flask evokes the emerging, dynamic skyscraper skyline of big cities, and the unadorned, pyramidal forms of the later salt and pepper shakers have a timeless quality. While all of these objects were progressive when made, only the later ones still speak the language of modern design.
MEDIUM
Sterling silver and cork
DATES
1925–1930
DIMENSIONS
9 5/8 x 4 1/2 x 1 3/16in. (24.4 x 11.4 x 3cm)
Other (a): 9 5/8 x 4 1/2 x 1 3/16 x 7/8 in. (24.4 x 11.4 x 3 x 2.2 cm)
Other (b): 9 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 1 in. (23.5 x 11.4 x 2.5 cm)
Other: 7/8in. (2.2cm)
(show scale)
MARKINGS
Stamped on lip of opening: "NAPIER STERLING 16 OZ"
ACCESSION NUMBER
1990.10a-b
CREDIT LINE
Modernism Benefit Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Flask, sterling silver and cork. Trapezoidal body (a) with rounded narrow bottom widens to stepped shoulder with threaded cylindrical opening on top; threaded cap (b) telescopes into a cup of four interlocking segments. Interior of cap lined with cork. Engraved decoration of lines radiating from the lower right and lower left corners in imitation of the pattern of criss-crossing beams of light.
CONDITION: Good. Surface scratches overall. Some nicks on sides. Some minor discoloration. Cap (b) is slightly misshapen with scratches on top.
CAPTION
The Napier Company (1922–present). Flask, 1925–1930. Sterling silver and cork, 9 5/8 x 4 1/2 x 1 3/16in. (24.4 x 11.4 x 3cm). Brooklyn Museum, Modernism Benefit Fund, 1990.10a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.10a-b_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 1990.10a-b_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
Do you know how much this Napier Company Flask holds?
Hm, we don't have the ounces amount on file here. But I can tell you a little about the design of the flask. The all-over, hard-edged design of the later flask evokes the emerging, dynamic skyscraper skyline of big cities and was very progressive when it was made.
