A chrome and crystal cocktail shaker featuring an acid etch scene of a golf course and country club with the 19th Hole engraved also. The idea behind the nineteenth hole is that after a long round of eighteen holes of golf, the next hole would e the bar in the clubhouse, or country club. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has called theJigger Inn, which overlooks the 17th Road Hole on theOld Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, "Arguably the most famous 19th hole in the world” while Golf Monthly has also called it "the most famous 19th hole in golf”.
This very rare and stunning cocktail shaker, and is a real Art Deco talking piece for the home bar of any golf fan. A large bodied, classic three piece shaker, meaning the top, sterling, cap lifts off to allow the decanting of the shaken cocktail. The remaining piece of the lid acts as the strainer with a grid base keeping the ice from coming through the spout. The large crystal base is where the ice and cocktail ingredients are added at the beginning of your mixing process. This shaker came in a few sizes, with this being the smaller, most practical holding around one pint of liquid when full.
The shaker is made by the American company; Hawkes. After immigrating from Ireland in 1862, landing in Brooklyn, he began working for Hoare and Dailey Cut Glass Firm. Upon learning the trade he decided to embark on his own venture, establishing Hawkes Rich Cut Glass, which then incorporated into T. G. Hawkes & Company in 1890. A year before incorporation the Hawkes company displayed its wares at the Universal Exposition, in Paris, where it won acclaim and a Grand Prize. Hawkes went on to become the one of the leading names in glassware in America, if not the world. His glassware was a permanent fixture in the White House from 1885 until 1938, and adorned the American Embassy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the company's prime, in the early 1900's, they were at a staff of around four hundred employees, and were up to three locations. Corning, NY, was nicknamed the "Crystal City".
The chrome lid and collar were also made by Hawkes, as they had taken this portion of the production into their own workshop by 1913, after usually outsourcing silver work to the likes of Gorham and Durgin up until this point. However, there are a number of pieces that were made for Tiffany & Co. and retailed by them using Hawkes glass. There have been exactly the same type of cocktail shakers found like this model signed only Tiffany & Co. and retailed by this luxury American retailer.
The design of the piece is superb throughout. The two pieces of the lid fit well into the body allowing for vigorous shaking, but the cork has shrunk a little meaning that you must keep your hand on the lid to prevent it from coming off! There are a couple of small cracks in the chrome plated collar on the crystal body, but they have no effect on the shaker itself, and are mentioned for transparency. The condition of the crystal body is perfect, and beautifully executed. While looking around it small details pop out like the small bird flying through the sky. Once filled with your favourite tipple, the acid etching in the body will become much more apparent. The base of the lid is signed Hawkes, along with the outside of the collar. A superb piece of American design history with golfing interest, produced in the 1930's.
