Napier Company / E. A. Bliss Co. silver designs in collections, at auction, and in exhibitions
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 18 March 2016 | Updated 30 December 2021
LINK: Napier Co. / E. A. Bliss Co. silver designs historical information
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Above, illustrations of cocktail shakers by Emil A. Schuelke for the Napier Company (left: design patent no. 94,098, 1934; right: 101,559, 1936). For more information, see listed entries on the parallel Napier Co. / E. A. Bliss historical information page.
A. Napier Company (1922-) designs in collections (by year)
Napier Company; predecessors: Carpenter & Bliss (1875-1883); E. A. Bliss (1883-1920); Meriden Sterling Co. ("offshoot of E. A. Bliss"); Napier-Bliss (1920-22).
Info/photo status: |
= info and photo online = info online, no photo = completely offline |
1920s | c. 1920-25 - match safeNapier Company. (c. 1920-25). Match safe. (Accession no. 200122. Viewed 21 February 2021. J01139). 1920-30 - lemon pressNapier Company. (1920-30). Lemon press with bird motif. Metal. (Accession no. 1991.302. Viewed 8 April 2017. A01968.) 1925-1930 - flaskNapier Company. (1925-1930). Flask. Sterling silver and cork. (Accession nos. 1990.10a-b. Viewed 20 March 2016. A00124.) 1925-39 - jigger (cup)Napier Company. (1925-39). Jigger (cup). Silver plate. (Accession no. 83.15.16. Viewed 6 April 2017. A01951.) 1925-39 - jigger (cup)Napier Company. (1925-39). Jigger (cup). Silver. (Accession no. 1990.1288. Viewed 8 April 2017. A02024.) c. 1928 - mirrorNapier Company. (c. 1928). Mirror. Silver, mirrored glass. (Accession no. 2000.45. Viewed 24 April 2016. D00067.) |
1930s | c. 1930 - "Umbrella" still bankNapier Company. (c. 1930). "Umbrella" still bank. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2003.236.542. Viewed 26 August 2018. J00177). 1930-40 - salt and pepper shakers with spoonNapier Company. (1930-40). "Duplex" salt and pepper shakers with spoon. Silver plate. (Accession no: 2008.20.11.A-C. Viewed 18 March 2016. B00009.) 1931 - cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke / Napier Company. (1931). Cocktail shaker. (Accession no. D95.107.1a-b. Viewed 14 November 2021. J01468).
after 1932 - pair of jiggersNapier Company. (after 1932). Pair of jiggers. (Accession no. 2004.15.2a,b. Viewed 18 July 2016. AAA00033-149.)
1932-35 - "Tells-U-How" beverage mixerNapier Company. (1932-35). "Tells-U-How" beverage mixer. (Viewed 30 December 2021. Q01123). 1934 - cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1934). Cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Accession No: 2002.29.60.A-B. Viewed 18 March 2016. B00011.) 1934 - cocktail setNapier Company. (1934). Cocktail set, foursome [shaker]. Silver electroplate, wood. (Accession no. 1990.1682 a-e. Viewed 8 April 2017. A01939.) 1934-35 - coffee serviceNapier Company. (1934-35). Coffee service. (Accession no. 1986.177.0a-d. Viewed 17 July 2016. AAA00033-145.)
c. 1935 - cocktail setNapier Company. (c. 1935). Individual cocktail shaker with drink dial. Silver plate. (Accession no: 2007.42.7.A-B. Viewed 18 March 2016. B00010.) c. 1935 - salt and pepper serverNapier Company. (c. 1935). Salt and pepper server. Silver-plated brass. (Accession nos. 1992.92.6a-c. Viewed 24 May 2016. D00146.) c. 1935 - cocktail shakerNapier Company. (c. 1935). Individual cocktail shaker with drink dial. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2007.42.7.A-B. Viewed 27 April 2016. A00446.) 1935 - cocktail strainerNapier Company. (1935). Cocktail strainer. Silver-plated brass. (Accession no. 87.724.9.1. Viewed 6 April 2017. A01955.) 1935 - cocktail spoon with graduated jiggerNapier Company. (1935). Cocktail spoon with graduated jigger. Silver-plated brass; (Accession no. 83.15.18. Viewed 6 April 2017. A01952.) c. 1935 - creamerNapier Company. (c. 1935). Creamer. (Object no. 1990.132. Viewed 16 April 2020. J00268). c. 1935 - creamerNapier Company. (c. 1935). Creamer. (Object no. 1990.132A. Viewed 16 April 2020. J00269). c. 1935 - sugar bowlNapier Company. (c. 1935). Sugar bowl. (Object no. 1990.132B. Viewed 16 April 2020. J00270). 1935-40 - creamer and sugar bowlNapier Company. (1935-40). Stacking creamer and sugar bowl. Metal. (Accession no. 1991.313 a,b. Viewed 8 April 2017. A01969.) 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1936). Penguin cocktail shaker with lid. Silver-plated metal. (Accession no. 1971-92-1-a,b. Viewed 1 January 2017. A01414.) 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Gilded silver plate. (Accession no. 2002.29.8.A-B. Viewed 27 April 2016. A00438.) c. 1936 - tea or coffee potNapier Company. (c. 1936). Tea or coffee pot (possibly Duplex line). Silver plate with gilding. (Accession no. 2014.48.3.A-B. Viewed 27 April 2016. A00439.) c. 1936 - creamer and sugar bowlNapier Company. (designed c. 1936). "The Duplex" creamer and sugar bowl. Gilded silver plate. (Accession no. 2004.13.10.A-B. Viewed 27 April 2016. A00437.) c. 1936 - creamer and sugar bowlNapier Company. (c. 1936). "The Duplex" creamer and sugar bowl. Silver plate and gold. (Accession no: 2002.29.64.A-B. Viewed 18 March 2016. B00012.) c. 1936 - creamerNapier Company. (designed c. 1936). Creamer. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2002.29.165.1. Viewed 18 March 2016. B00013.) c. 1936 - sugar bowlNapier Company. (designed c. 1936). Sugar bowl. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2002.29.165.2. Viewed 18 March 2016. B00014.) c. 1936 - cocktail shakerNapier Company. (c. 1936). Cocktail shaker. (Accession no. 1987.220.1a,b. ; viewed 17 July 2016. [AAA00033-147]
1938 - cocktail shaker, roosterNapier Company. (1938). Cocktail shaker, rooster. Silver plate. (Accession no. 1990.1267. Viewed 8 April 2017. A02023.) Click the following link to see designs and documentation for other historical silver companies from the Meriden area, and those that were connected to the International Silver Company; go to the historical Meriden design overview page and scroll down to section D: "ISC, predecessors & divisions" and E: "Other featured companies". |
1940s |
c. 1940 - cigarette caseNapier Company. (c. 1940). Cigarette case. Rose gold, silver. (Accession no. 62.107.98. Viewed 6 April 2017. A01945.) c. 1940 - toothpick holderNapier Company. (c. 1940). Toothpick holder. (Accession no. 1986.190.1. Viewed 18 July 2016. AAA00033-146.)
c. 1940 - bar toolNapier Company. (c. 1940). Bar tool. Accession no. 2000.94.3. Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. Offline; viewed 18 July 2016. [AAA00033-148]
1940-65 - serving spoonNapier Company. (1940-65). Serving spoon. Silver plate. (Accession no. 1986.781. Viewed 25 August 2017. G00033.) 1949 - spoonNapier Company. (1949). Spoon. Silver. (Accession no. 50-12. Viewed 12 November 2016. AAA00426-16.)
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1950s |
1950 - salad serversNapier Company. (1950). Salad servers. (Accession no. 50-13A,B. Viewed 12 November 2016. AAA00426-17.)
c. 1950 - candle snufferNapier Company. (c. 1950). Candle snuffer. Sterling silver. (Accession no. 1995.8. Viewed 27 April 2016. A00444.) 1950 - sugar bowl and creamerNapier Company. (1950). Sugar bowl and creamer. (Accession no. 50-25A,B. Viewed 12 November 2016. AAA00426-18.)
c. 1950-59 - earringNapier Company. (c. 1950-59). Earring. (Obj. no. 1998.018.0058 ab . Viewed 27 August 2018. J00180). 1955-83 - braceletNapier Company. (1955-83). Bracelet. Gold-plated metal. (Accession no. 1984.1534. Viewed 25 May 2016. A00701.) 1955-83 - pair of earringsNapier Company. (1955-83). Pair of earrings. Metal, plastic. (Accession no. 1984.1425AB. Viewed 25 May 2016. A00702.) 1957 - ladleNapier Company. (1957). Ladle. Bakelite. (Accession no. 1990.1320. Viewed 8 April 2017. A02026.) |
1960s | c. 1960 - salad-serving fork and spoonNapier Company. (c. 1960). Salad-serving fork and spoon. Silver plate and teak. (Accession nos. 2002.29.92.1-2. Viewed 8 March 2017. A01728-29.)
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1970s | c. 1970 - pair of earringsNapier Company. (c. 1970). Pair of earrings. (Obj. no. NM.0324292+. Viewed 28 August 2018. J00192). |
n. d. | early 20th c. - "Baby Bird" still bankNapier Company. (early 20th century). "Baby Bird" still bank. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2003.236.830. Viewed 26 August 2018. J00176). n. d. - fork and spoonNapier Company. (undated). Fork and spoon. Silver plate and wood. (Accession nos. 2002.29.212.1-2. Viewed 8 March 2017. A01723-24.) n. d. - necklaceNapier Company. (undated). Necklace. Gold-tone metal. (Accession no. H.1999.1.617. Viewed 1 August 2017. A02781.)
n. d. - cork holderNapier Company. (undated). Cork holder. Silver. (Accession no. 1990.548 a-e. Viewed 6 April 2017. A01936.) |
B. Selected Napier Company designs at leading auction houses
1930s |
1934 - cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for The Napier Company. (1934). Cocktail shaker. Silver-plated metal. (Viewed 9 April 2016. B00126.)
c. 1934 - cocktail shakerNapier Company. (c. 1934). "Foursome" cocktail shaker. Silver plate, walnut. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00030.) c. 1935 - Penguin cocktail shakerNapier Company. (c. 1935). Penguin cocktail shaker. (Viewed 30 December 2021. Q01120). 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 8 May 2016. D00116.)
c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (c. 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00017.)
c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shaker and two later reproductionsEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (c. 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker and two later reproductions. Silver plate. (Viewed 27 April 2016. A00442.)
c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (c. 1936). Cocktail shaker in the form of a penguin. Silver plate. (Viewed 4 April 2016. A00308.) c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (c. 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. (Viewed May 2016. D00119.) c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (design patented 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00032.) c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (design patented 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00016.)
c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (design patented 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00034.) c. 1936 - Penguin cocktail shakerEmil Schuelke for Napier Company. (c. 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. (Viewed 30 December 2021. Q01118).
c. 1936 - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (design patented 1936). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00016.)
1930s - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1930s). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 8 December 2016. A01294.) c. 1930s - three jiggersNapier Company. (c. 1930s). Three jiggers. Silver plate. (Viewed 16 April 2016. C00012.) c. 1930s - cocktail shakerNapier Company. (c. 1930s). "Tells-U-How" cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00035.) c. 1930s - cocktail jigger and stirrerNapier Company. (c. 1930s). Cocktail jigger and stirrer. (Viewed 30 December 2021. Q01117). |
1940s | c. 1940 - flask and telescopic tot cupNapier Company. (c. 1940). Flask and telescopic tot cup. (Viewed 30 December 2021. Q01121). c. 1940s - musical measureNapier Company. (c. 1940s). Musical measure. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00027.) c. 1940s - four jiggersNapier Company. (c. 1940s). Four jiggers. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00028.) c. 1940s - pair of "swan" cocktail stick holdersNapier Company. (c. 1940s). Pair of "swan" cocktail stick holders. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00029.) c. 1940s - pair of "hedgehog" cocktail stick holdersNapier Company. (c. 1940s). Pair of "hedgehog" cocktail stick holders. Silver plate. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00031.) |
n. d. |
20th c. - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (20th century). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 7 May 2016. D00105.) 20th c. - pair of penguin cocktail shakersNapier Company. (20th century). A pair of penguin form cocktail shakers. Silver plate. (Viewed 16 April 2016. C00013.)
n. d. - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (undated). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 8 May 2016. D00115.)
20th c. - penguin cocktail shakerEmil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (20th century). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 30 April 2016. C00045.)
20th c. - penguin cocktail shakerNapier Company. (20th century). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00021.)
20th c. - penguin cocktail shakerNapier Company. (20th century). Penguin cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00020.)
n. d. - cocktail shakerNapier Company. (undated). Cocktail shaker. (Viewed May 2016. D00118.)
20th c. - stirring spoonNapier Company. (20th century). Sterling stirring spoon. (Viewed 21 June 2020. L01429).
20th c. - recipe cocktail shakerNapier Company. (20th century). Recipe cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00023.)
20th c. - cocktail shaker combination corkscrew, caplifter, measure and funnelNapier Company. (20th century). Cocktail shaker combination corkscrew, caplifter, measure and funnel. Silver plate. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00019.)
20th c. - pair of Napier seashell-form ashtraysNapier Company. (20th century). Pair of Napier seashell-form ashtrays. Sterling. (Viewed 26 April 2016. C00018.)
20th c. - gavel cocktail measureNapier Company. (20th century). Gavel cocktail measure. Silver plate, stained beech. (Viewed 13 April 2016. D00033.)
n. d. - eight shell-form ashtraysNapier Company. (undated). Eight shell-form ashtrays. Sterling silver. (Viewed 16 May 2016. E00001.) n. d. - cigarette caseThe Napier Company. (undated). Cigarette case. Sterling silver. (Viewed 18 May 2016. E00002.)
n. d. - gentleman’s flask with telescopic cup/capNapier Company. (undated). Gentleman’s flask with telescopic cup / cap. Silver. (Viewed May 2016. D00117.) n. d. - candle snufferNapier Company. (undated). Candle snuffer. (Viewed 27 April 2016. A00441.)
n. d. - violin necklacePresumably Arman with Napier Company. (undated). Violins (violin necklace). (Viewed 30 December 2021. Q01119).
n. d. - jiggerNapier Company. (undated). Jigger, graduated cylindrical form with angular strap handle. (Viewed 21 June 2020. L01430).
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C. Napier Company designs in exhibitions
1920s | 1922 - National Merchandise Fair, New York7 - c. 27 August 1922. National Merchandise Fair, Grand Central Palace and Seventy-first Regiment Armory, New York. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Napier Company.
1923 - Second National Merchandise Fair, New York23 July - 3 August 1923. Second National Merchandise Fair, Grand Central Palace and 165th Regiment Armory, New York. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Napier Company.
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1930s | 1939 - display in G. Fox & Co., Hartford18 - 25 February 1939. Connecticut-made week at G. Fox & Co., Hartford. > Unspecified designs displayed by Napier Jewelry.
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1940s | 1940 - display / exhibit at G. Fox & Co., Hartford10 - 17 February 1940. Connecticut-made week at G. Fox & Co., Hartford. (Viewed 24 October 2018. C00314; C00317). > Unspecified designs exhibited and / or displayed by Napier Jewelry.
1941 - display at G. Fox & Co.8 - 15 February 1941. Connecticut-made week at G. Fox & Co., Hartford. > Unspecified designs displayed by Napier Jewelry Co.
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1980s | 1987-88 - Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford1 December 1987 - 31 August 1988. A decade of collecting Connecticut industrial arts at the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. > Emil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1934-35). Breakfast tea service. Silver plated nickel, plastic. (Possibly exhibited with patent drawing; CT Historical Society collection, not listed above.)
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1990s | 1992-99 - Canada / USA travelling exhibition7 venues: 1992-99. Shaken, not stirred: Cocktail shakers and design at Seagram Museum, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (11 December 1992 - 31 October 1993); Museum of our National Heritage, Lexington, Massachusetts (24 April - 30 October 1994); Milwaukee Art Museum (29 September 1995 - 7 January 1996); Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama (24 July 1996 - 8 September 1996); Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans (1 October - 1 March 1997); The Museums at Stony Brook, Long Island, New York [now "The Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages"] (3 May - 4 September 1997); possibly Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL (c. January 1998); and San Francisco International Airport Museum (21 March 1998 - 20 February 1999). Exhibited design (at Stony Brook viewing; due to nature of exhibition, the presentations at different sites may have varied.) > Emil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1936). Penguin cocktail shaker, patent no. 101,559. Silver plate. (Private lender.)
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2000s | 2005-07 - Dallas Museum of Art travelling exhibition5 venues: 2005 - 2007. Modernism in American Silver: 20th-Century Design. (Viewed 21 March 2016. A00140.) > Exhibition venues: Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC; Nevada Museum of Art, Reno; Dallas Museum of Art; The Wolfsonian, Miami Beach, FL; The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, TN.
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2010s | 2011-12 - Brooklyn Museum2 September 2011 - 1 April 2012. 19th-Century Modern at Brooklyn Museum, New York. > Exhibited designs by Napier Company: Flask (1925-30) and Mirror (c. 1928). (Both Brooklyn Museum collection, listed above).
2016-17 - Dallas Museum of Art18 November 2016 - 12 November 2017. Shaken, stirred, styled: The art of the cocktail at Dallas Museum of Art. Exhibited designs: > Emil A. Schuelke for Napier Company. (1936). "Penguin" cocktail shaker; Gilded silver plate; (1934). Cocktail shaker. Silver plate. (Both Dallas Museum of Art collection, listed above.) > Napier Company. (c. 1935). Individual cocktail shaker with drink dial. Silver plate. (Dallas Museum of Art collection.)
2017-18 - Cooper Hewitt and Cleveland exhibitions2 venues: 2017-18. The jazz age: American style in the 1920s at Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York (7 April - 20 August 2017) and Cleveland Museum of Art (30 September 2017 - 14 January 2018). > Exhibited design: Napier Company. (1925-30). Flask. (Brooklyn Museum collection, listed above).
See our Design Meriden compilation listing over 1000 exhibitions since 1851, featuring historical design associated with the Meriden area. |
DESIGN MERIDEN:
Napier Company / E. A. Bliss Co. - 1: designs in collections, etc. | 2: historical information