A silver plate bar tool compendium. This is a wonderful looking and very sweet little bar tool, very quaintly named the "Bar Baby". It comprises of; beer bottle opener, wine bottle opener, jigger and funnel. All of which comes neatly together in this miniature cocktail shaker form. This works as a neat and practical bar accessory that will house nearly all of your home bar needs in one handy place.
The piece was made in American by the barware specialist of the period; Napier. The company can trace its roots back to 1875 when it was founded as Whitney and Rice in Attleboro, Mass., manufacturing silver products. The firm changed hands and name in 1882 and became Carpenter and Bliss, and shortly thereafter, E.A. Bliss and Co., Inc. After rapid expansion in the late 1880s the company moved to Meriden, CT in 1890 which was an epicenter for the American silver manufacturing business. After the First World War, the firm expanded into the costume jewellery business, while maintaining its silver core. James Napier became president in 1920 and the company adopted the name Napier - Bliss Co. Finally, in 1922, the name was changed to simply; Napier Company.
The company employed a few notable designers at the time making iconic pieces, such as; Le Roy H. Fontan and Emile Shulke. Although this piece is not attributed to either of them, there is a very good chance that they could have had at least a small hand in its conception.
It is presented in a "dead-stock" or " new old stock" condition, meaning that it has never been used, and it even comes in its original box containing its instruction leaflet. A superb piece of early 20th Century barware design, and an item that would not only look good in any home bar, but also prove itself a useful addition. Made in America, circa 1930's.