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Cocktail Collectors Are Shaking Things Up

Barware and cocktail party glassware are stylish collectibles that are just plain fun.

It seems like every upscale restaurant offers a signature martini, and consumers are following suit by purchasing everything from stemless wine glasses to fancy barware for wine, beer and liqueurs like never before.

But in the vintage world, cocktails and barware have always been cool. The old-time shakers, the retro stirrers and swizzle sticks, the trays and accessories are all turning up on online auction sites daily as these treasures attract new fans who enjoy the classic elegance of yesterday’s barware.

There are a wide variety of cocktail shakers available in the antiques market. Some are glass bodies, and others are chrome or silverplate. Some have handles and spouts. But all are distinctively made to allow hosts and hostesses to mix up some fun.

My favorites are the vintage glass shakers that come with matching drinking glasses or ice buckets and are very colorful. Clear glass bodies are often decorated with aqua, pink and green images of parties and drink recipes popular in the 1950s. These are fun to bring out and share with friends and great to work into a cool kitchen decor scheme.

I’ve also seen shakers that look like a lady’s leg, some decorated with pink elephants, and lots of colored glass that would make for a fascinating collection. It’s easy to see why the collecting category of bar accessories is popular with fans of retro!

I was surprised to learn of the big names that produced barware of distinction. Glassware icons, such as Cambridge, Heisey, Hazel Atlas, Duncan Miller, Imperial Glass, West Virginia Specialty Glass, Owens-Illinois, are just some of the companies that made unique cocktail shakers and serving ware.

Top names in metal barware include Manning Bowman, Napier, Farber Brothers, Revere, Bernard Rice’s Sons, Wallace Brothers, Mappin & Webb, Barbours, Meriden S.P. Co., Derby S.P. Co. and Gorham. These firms made gorgeous sterling, silverplate and chrome shakers that are elegant and modern-looking.

Some of these old shakers resemble skyscrapers and modern architecture. Others are shaped like bullets, zeppelins, bowling pins and penguins.

Cocktail shaking began in the late 1800s, but really came into vogue about the same time as Prohibition, no doubt encouraged by the fact that drinks had to be mixed and served at home.

Many of the finest antique shakers reveal an art deco, modernist appeal that remind you of the jazz age and “The Great Gatsby” time period. All of the shakers would make the perfect gift for any friend, male of female, who enjoys entertaining.

Drink recipes go in and out of fashion, too, and old drink recipe books, shot and jigger glasses, and even retro cocktail napkins are now collectibles. If you’re looking for the bible on vintage barware, find a copy of Stephen Visakay’s “Vintage Bar Ware: Identification & Value Guide,” which includes 300 color photos and lots of tips for caring and finding lovely old bar items. He’s one of the top collectors in the nation, with a collection that is near 1,800 items, and he has been interviewed by Martha Stewart (marthastewart.com).

The barware shown in my column today was discovered in Wheeling’s own Centre Market shopping district, where you can find just about any treasure, so find yourself a vintage cocktail shaker and relax with this classy collectible soon.

For comments or suggestions on local treasures to be featured in Antique of the Week, Maureen Zambito can be reached via email at: zambitomaureen

@hotmail.com or by writing in care of this newspaper.

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