Penguin Cocktail Shaker

This penguin cocktail shaker is being sold in gift catalogs. It is a copy of an Art Deco shaker designed by Emile Schuelke and made in the United States by the Napier Company. The original was made in 1936 following the Prohibition era. It was during this time that glamour and novelty became attached to the cocktail shaker. The shakers often took humorous shapes like animals, bowling pins, hourglasses, and golf bags.

The original penguin shaker’s entire beak is hinged at the face and lifts to reveal a stopper and pouring spout. It came in two finishes, one silver plate, and the other a luxurious model (for twice the price) with gilded wings, beak, eyes, feet, and handle. When you turn over an original, it should have an impressed manufacturer’s mark that reads “Napier Patent Pending.” An authentic shaker can sell for over $3,000 at auction, but this copy can be purchased for about $25.