Description:

GERMAN ART DECO STYLIZED AIRPLANE COCKTAIL SHAKER AND TRAVEL BAR
An especially rare and desirable chrome-plated airplane-shaped cocktail shaker and travel bar, 3 x 9.5 in. Although lacking the detachable ‘wing' flasks, detachable ‘landing gear' flask, spoon and four shot cups, it still retains many pieces and is still in working order. The shaker allows the piece to stand upright with four fins attached to the bottom, the corkscrew (marked ‘Made in Germany') and the funnel thread together to form a detachable schnapps stemmed base cup, which was meant to nest inside the four missing shot cups. The exterior of the piece is completed with a decorative propeller affixed to the top lid. Inside the lid is a detachable strainer, marked ‘DRGM 894884'. Multiple pieces bear the mark ‘Made in Germany' or ‘DRGM', attributing this airplane to the maker ‘J.A. Henckels, Solingen'. While the exterior is chrome, the interior of the detachable pieces features gold plating. The most interesting part of the multi-use plane is the inscription: ‘ISTUS 1937. INTERN. SEGELFLIEGERTREFFEN SALZBURG' (‘ISTUS International Conference 1937 for Sailplanes'), engraved with the facsimile signature of the ISTUS CEO and President. This conference was an annual glider meeting always held in a different location, such as Berlin and Budapest, which included various events, including high altitude flights, destination flights, etc. Pilots were given monetary prizes for individual achievements. These meetings were attended by many famous pilots and celebrities, including Hanna Reitsch, a well-known German test pilot who accomplished her first crossing of the Alps in a solo glider flight from Salzburg to Italy at the 1937 conference, as well as breaking a record as the first woman to fly a helicopter in the same year. Reitsch later stated: ‘Gliding flights in the Alps became the high point of my life as a pilot'. This fantastic lot is not only a most impressive travel bar but also a remarkable piece of memorabilia from an iconic conference. Overall, very good condition with only slight wear and a few expected rub marks from shifting of the internal pieces. This item is extremely rare as we have seen only a few similar uninscribed examples which have sold for $6,000-$10,000.

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Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

July 28, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000