An early 20th century novelty silver plated cocktail shaker modelled as a milk churn with a removable lid and cork stopper by Reed & Barton. Marked on the base: Reed & Barton | 27 | 32OZ

American, circa 1930
 
Dimensions

Height (with lid): 24cm / 9½"
Height (without lid): 20cm / 8”
Diameter (of base): 10cm / 4”

This rather unusual cocktail shaker was designed when Prohibition (1920-1933) was declared in America. By law it was illegal to buy, sell or drink alcohol. This resulted in the manufacture of various styles of cocktail shakers being made during the Prohibition era which didn’t look like shakers and were therefore disguised as milk churns, coffee pots and watering cans. Reed & Barton was a well known American silversmith firm based in Taunton, Massachusetts. The firm was founded in 1824 under the name Babbitt & Crossman until it was taken over by Henry Reed and Charles Barton. During the American Civil War (1861-1865) Reed & Barton produced a considerable amount of weapons for the Union Army. The firm ceased trading in 2015.