Egmont Arens (American, 1887–1966). <em>Meat Slicer</em>, ca. 1935. Steel, aluminum, rubber, electrical wiring, 12 1/2 x 17 x 20 1/2 in. (31.8 x 43.2 x 52.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eva, Alan, and Louis Brill, 1998.143.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1998.143.3a-b_back.jpg)

Egmont Arens (American, 1887–1966). Meat Slicer, ca. 1935. Steel, aluminum, rubber, electrical wiring, 12 1/2 x 17 x 20 1/2 in. (31.8 x 43.2 x 52.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eva, Alan, and Louis Brill, 1998.143.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1998.143.3a-b_back.jpg)

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Why is this object included in the exhibition?

It's there as an example of the way that modern design was used for everyday objects like art making everyday life more efficient.

It dates to the 1930s machine age, when everything from fine art to skyscrapers to furniture was affected by a new, streamlined, simplified design style, and by the use of new materials. Sometimes when we put everyday objects side-by-side with fine art like sculpture and painting, it is possible to see connections between them.

Was this Hobart slicer broken and repaired?

I am not seeing that the slicer was broken and repaired. The report cites "extensive wear," but nothing about a break.

Why is this device used to cut meat on display in a museum?

It can definitely be confusing to see an item you would find at your local supermarket on display! This meat slicer is an example of innovation, in a few ways. The manufacturing company, Hobart, was among the first to produce electric kitchen wares, such as this meat slicer, as well as electric mixers.

Another innovation is found in the design created by industrial designer, Egmont Arens. Before Arens' design, a meat slicer was hard to clean and impractical. Not only did Arens' innovative design make it easy to clean, it was a new, modern aesthetic that was first popular in the 1920s.

Interesting, thanks.

You're welcome!

You guys have a meat slicer on exhibit!

We sure do! The meat slicer is representative of the streamlined design developed in the 1930's.

I never thought of it as being a clean, efficient machine but it is.

It is always interesting when seemingly ordinary objects become part of museum exhibitions. It always reminds me that this technology and design were once ground breaking and innovative! From a salesman's memo: "The Hobart Meat Slicer is an excellent example of how a piece of machinery can be designed to do a better job, to be easier to manipulate and at the same time easier on the eye."

I'll bet that machine enabled some really good NY deli sandwiches!

I'm sure it did!

Was this manual or electric?

It was electric! It was manufactured in 1930 by the Hobart Manufacturing Company and is their first model of an electric meat slicer, the Model 11-A.

Meat Slicer

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Decorative Art, 20th-Century Decorative Arts, 4th Floor

The shift in our perception of objects when they are displayed as part of a museum collection can sometimes elevate a practical piece into an art object. On deli counters in the 1940s, this commercial meat slicer would have evoked cleanliness, efficiency, and modernity. In an exhibition, it becomes an almost abstract piece of streamlined design.

DESIGNER Egmont Arens, American, 1887–1966

MANUFACTURER Hobart Manufacturing Co.

MEDIUM Steel, aluminum, rubber, electrical wiring

Place Manufactured: Troy, Ohio, United States

DATES ca. 1935

DIMENSIONS 12 1/2 x 17 x 20 1/2 in. (31.8 x 43.2 x 52.1 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS Marked on bottom, metal plate attached with screws consisting of a standard label with printed field titles and boxes, the boxes are filled in with inscribed field information: "MOTOR SPEC. 4321 1 PHASE / VOLTS 115 60 CYCLE 1/8 H.P. / 3.3 AMP. SPEED 1725 / TEMP. RISE 50° TIME RATING CONT. / THE HOBART MFG. CO. / TROY, OHIO"

INSCRIPTIONS Inscribed on both lower right front corner and upper left back corner: "HOBART"

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 1998.143.3a-b

CREDIT LINE Gift of Eva, Alan, and Louis Brill

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Stream-lined, steel electric meat slicer with a circular blade composed of several pieces joined together with screws and bolts. Directional orientation based on viewer's perspective if facing the short "front" end with the power switch and numbered gauge. Main unit has generally rectangular base raised on four rubber feet; all corners and edges rounded; power switch centered on front edge. Left front quadrant of base slightly concave to form tray to catch sliced meat; left back quadrant rises to high, rounded hump that houses motor; entire right side base rises about 4" to a flat platform. Front edge of this platform inscribed with gauge lines (numbered on the tens from 70 to 0, left to right) and a sliding black-painted knob to set slicing thickness. Rising upward from the left side of this platform is a vertical safety wall with rounded front and top edges that bisects the base from side to side; it is aligned with and in front of the blade and prevents the user from getting too close to the blade. The back edge of this safety wall is concave to conform to the circular blade; blade is encased in a disk that curves over blade's edge for safety and then is attached to the side of the rear left hump. A rectangular, two-walled tray for holding the meat is tipped up toward the rear and is suspended above the right side platform next to the blade; tray attached to main base by a continuous strut that extends from the bottom of the tray down along the right side of the platform and is then bolted to underside of base. All of the edges of the tray are flared outward; the front wall has a molded protuberance that juts forward from the center of its top edge. The sides of the back wall are bent back and joined by a bar running behind the back wall. Attached to this bar is the moveable meat holder comprised of an arm curves forward over the back wall of the tray and terminates in a rounded end; a cylindrical, grooved hand grip is attached to the right of this end and a semi-circular flat plate set parallel to the blade is attached to the left side. The semicircular plate is covered with raised points on side facing blade to secure meat in place; the whole arm piece slides along the bar to push meat into blade for slicing. CONDITION: Fair; shows extensive wear from use, including all over scratches, dirt and grease, discolorations, and rust spots; paint loss on knob for thickness gauge.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Decorative Art, 20th-Century Decorative Arts, 4th Floor

CAPTION Egmont Arens (American, 1887–1966). Meat Slicer, ca. 1935. Steel, aluminum, rubber, electrical wiring, 12 1/2 x 17 x 20 1/2 in. (31.8 x 43.2 x 52.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Eva, Alan, and Louis Brill, 1998.143.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1998.143.3a-b_back.jpg)

IMAGE back, CUR.1998.143.3a-b_back.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010

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