Giftware Archives - Driving for Deco

We’re on the hunt for – you guessed it – Bruce Hunt.

Bruce Hint embossed hallmark

Style isn’t static. Transition from Victorian, to Arts and Crafts, to Art Nouveau, then to Art Deco is an example of how, relatively speaking, quickly styles can overlap and change.

…

Straddling design styles was more or less successful depending on the skill on the designer. And the resulting marriage in lesser hands resulted in items that were, frankly, odd. Think Art Deco bedroom suites decorated with religion screens and cherubs as seen below!

1920’s Bedroom Suite with Cherub (photo via modernism.com)

For many, the introduction of Art Deco was synonymous with high class. Think Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man movies series, for example. But the exaggerated and uncluttered deco style showcased in movies was both impractical and financially out of reach for most people.

Livingroom of NIck and Nora Charles (photo via Pinterest)

And a tanking economy didn’t help. It was more likely, for example, to find a streamline toaster among traditional kitchenware. Not because the person necessarily wanted something moderne, but rather, they needed a new toaster and what was available was in the new streamline style.

The 1936 dream kitchen. Streamline metal cabinets. Small knick knack shelves on both sides of the window and modern appliances, including a General Electric vacuum coffee pot on the counter. Image from the Warner Bros. DVD.

Manufacturers recognizing the limitation of their clients scrambled to meet their needs, and budgets, while completing for their business.

…

Chase Brass & Copper, Co, retooled stock items into attractive household goods.

…

Revere, Co, already with their diverse catalogue, adapted fairly quickly to the changing market.

…

Kensington, Co, with the introduction of wares from that newly available metal, aluminum, was originally one of the most expensive of the giftware lines at the time.

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A host of other companies and designers sprang up vying for a piece of the action. With the passing of time, scant information is available on most of these businesses. We are currently looking into several well-known and yet, lesser-known designers/companies. And the focus for this article is Bruce-Hunt Company, New York.

: Bruce Hunt traditional designs (photo via etsy)

: Traditional tray with Deco influence (photo via eBay)

As with most companies, Bruce-Hunt adapted to changing time. Yet they didn’t want to alienate their base clients. Giftware was available in both traditional and current styles. And some, like the tray above, successfully straddled the two.

…

We were unaware of Bruce Hunt until a few years ago with the contentious purchase of a vase. I liked it. And in a rare example of disagreement, Anthony did not.

Bruce Hunt vase with contrast ball – from the author’s collection

It clearly bears the Bruce Hunt hallmark and neither of us thought much beyond that.

Bruce Hunt individual candle holder – from the author’s collection

Last summer I picked up this pair of Bruce Hunt candlesticks at my local Goodwill. Since this is now technically a collection (3 or more pieces!) I decided it was time to start delving into Bruce Hunt.

Vase and candlesticks – from the author’s collection

And I would love to find the matching candelabra.

Bruce-Hunt candelabra (photo via neonflamingo.ca)

After months or research, what I found is – not a lot. While items are easily found online for sale, scant references are made to the designers and / or company.

Bruce Hunt cheese tray (photo via Worthpoint)

: Chrome Tray (photo via eBay)

: Chrome handled tray (photo via ogtstore.com)

: Round chrome tray with red handles (photo via ancientpoint.com)

Chrome cocktail shaker (photo via artgallery.yale.edu)

What I have found is that the company name is sometimes written as Bruce Hunt (no hyphen), or Bruce-Hunt (with hyphen). But most companies change their hallmark for a variety of reasons. We don’t know if this was to indicate when an item was manufactured or simply to clarify an association between two individuals, Bruce and Hunt. Or, possibly to make the company sound more high end. I lean, with no evidence, toward the latter.

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Bruce-Hunt Company was apparently well known at the time and quite successful. This is evident in their advertising campaign featured in higher end magazines of the day. And this makes the mystery of the lack of information even more intriguing.

Bruce-Hunt ad, Vogue, 1935

: Chromium houseware-designs (photo via Worthpoint)

: Fashionable household goods (phot0 via eBay)

Note the designer, Theodore Hess feature predominately in these ads (photo via Worthpoint).

Although chrome is predominately featured, a variety of finishes are available.

: Lily pad tray antique copper finish (photo via etsy)

: Lily pad tray mark (photo via etsy)

: Tray in silver metallic (photo via etsy)

A popular design by the Bruce-Hunt Company is their chrome coffee set. It was designed circa 1935 by C. R. Theodore Hess (aka, “Ted” Hess). It is recognizable by the severely angled handle at the top, ending in a ball. Anthony thinks the sugar looks like a guy with his fists on his hips looking for a fight!

Coffee set circa 1935 designed by Theodore Hess (photo from Rubylane.com)

Theodore Hess mugs, Brooklyn Museum for Metalcraft

Born in 1873, C. R. Theodore “Ted” Hess was an American by birth and moved to the U.S. Here he established himself in the world of industrial design. And he excelled it the use of the newest material available of the day. He worked for several industrial companies. And while not a household name, Hess was well respected in his field.

: C.R. Theodore Hess aka, Ted Hess

: Excerpt from Depression to Expression (photo via internet)

Unfortunately, just as there is little information available on Bruce Hunt Company, there is little to nothing of the designers. And, I hope to update the article if, or when I find more information. If you have anything to add, please let us know.

…

Thanks for joining us!

…

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

Kensington Compass Platter, brass detail.

The Chase, Brass and Copper Company was in the business of making brass and copper pipes, nails and toilet bowl floats, Revere and Alcoa both were in the business of cookware (pots and pans). In the early 1930’s as the depression deepened to its lowest point, Chase decided to expand its sales base and go into the giftware business. Giftware that spanned the gamut from smoking items to cocktail shakers, electric buffet servers and lamps. Made of chrome and copper, their giftware line was such a success that Revere and Alcoa followed a few years later with their own lines. Revere, like Chase made their items of chrome, brass and copper. Alcoa, an aluminum company had developed a new, special type of aluminum for their giftwares; they christened the new line Kensington, after the town the company was in, New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Introduced in the fall of 1934 the Kensington line was modern with classic accents, usually in brass. All the items were created by industrial designer Lurelle Guild. Here is the Stratford comport and Thistle dish, both of which were among the first items when Kensington hit the market in October of 1934.

: Stratford Comport

: Thistle Dish sitting on top of the Kensington Aztec Platter from 1936.

If you go to antique shows, antique malls or stores one often comes across giftwares made by Chase. Chase collectibles command pretty high prices, with items made by Revere not that far behind. But pieces of Kensington can often be bought for a fraction of the cost of Chase and Revere. The irony of this is, in the 1930’s Kensington was the most expensive of the giftware lines. I think that most people who sell Kensington at flea markets, thrift stores and antiques stores believe these are mid-century items and do not realize their 1930’s deco pedigree. Plus the fact that it is aluminum, a big selling point 80 years ago, is seen a cheap alternative to the chrome and copper of Chase and Revere. Here are some close up details of a few of the pieces in my collection –

: Foot detail of Aztec Platter

: Thistle Dish handle detail

: Clifton Tray handle detail

: Gainsford Vase base detail

Other Kensington items from my collection, all bought for less than $15.00 – –

Mayfair Tea set

Thistle Dish – Aztec Platter

So the next time you are at a flea market looking for a genuine deco piece, don’t pass up these shiny and very affordable items.

Anthony & Chris

Compass Platter

Driving for Deco

We will drive anywhere to find great Art Deco.

Tag Archives: Giftware

On the (Bruce) Hunt

We’re on the hunt for – you guessed it – Bruce Hunt.

Style isn’t static. Transition from Victorian, to Arts and Crafts, to Art Nouveau, then to Art Deco is an example of how, relatively speaking, quickly styles can overlap and change.

Straddling design styles was more or less successful depending on the skill on the designer. And the resulting marriage in lesser hands resulted in items that were, frankly, odd. Think Art Deco bedroom suites decorated with religion screens and cherubs as seen below!

For many, the introduction of Art Deco was synonymous with high class. Think Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man movies series, for example. But the exaggerated and uncluttered deco style showcased in movies was both impractical and financially out of reach for most people.

And a tanking economy didn’t help. It was more likely, for example, to find a streamline toaster among traditional kitchenware. Not because the person necessarily wanted something moderne, but rather, they needed a new toaster and what was available was in the new streamline style.

Manufacturers recognizing the limitation of their clients scrambled to meet their needs, and budgets, while completing for their business.

Chase Brass & Copper, Co, retooled stock items into attractive household goods.

Revere, Co, already with their diverse catalogue, adapted fairly quickly to the changing market.

Kensington, Co, with the introduction of wares from that newly available metal, aluminum, was originally one of the most expensive of the giftware lines at the time.

As with most companies, Bruce-Hunt adapted to changing time. Yet they didn’t want to alienate their base clients. Giftware was available in both traditional and current styles. And some, like the tray above, successfully straddled the two.

We were unaware of Bruce Hunt until a few years ago with the contentious purchase of a vase. I liked it. And in a rare example of disagreement, Anthony did not.

It clearly bears the Bruce Hunt hallmark and neither of us thought much beyond that.

Last summer I picked up this pair of Bruce Hunt candlesticks at my local Goodwill. Since this is now technically a collection (3 or more pieces!) I decided it was time to start delving into Bruce Hunt.

And I would love to find the matching candelabra.

After months or research, what I found is – not a lot. While items are easily found online for sale, scant references are made to the designers and / or company.

Bruce-Hunt Company was apparently well known at the time and quite successful. This is evident in their advertising campaign featured in higher end magazines of the day. And this makes the mystery of the lack of information even more intriguing.

Although chrome is predominately featured, a variety of finishes are available.

Unfortunately, just as there is little information available on Bruce Hunt Company, there is little to nothing of the designers. And, I hope to update the article if, or when I find more information. If you have anything to add, please let us know.

Thanks for joining us!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

Like this:

Kensington, Deco Aluminum Gift Ware

Other Kensington items from my collection, all bought for less than $15.00 – –

So the next time you are at a flea market looking for a genuine deco piece, don’t pass up these shiny and very affordable items.

Anthony & Chris

Like this:

We’re on the hunt for – you guessed it – Bruce Hunt.

Style isn’t static. Transition from Victorian, to Arts and Crafts, to Art Nouveau, then to Art Deco is an example of how, relatively speaking, quickly styles can overlap and change.

Straddling design styles was more or less successful depending on the skill on the designer. And the resulting marriage in lesser hands resulted in items that were, frankly, odd. Think Art Deco bedroom suites decorated with religion screens and cherubs as seen below!

For many, the introduction of Art Deco was synonymous with high class. Think Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man movies series, for example. But the exaggerated and uncluttered deco style showcased in movies was both impractical and financially out of reach for most people.

And a tanking economy didn’t help. It was more likely, for example, to find a streamline toaster among traditional kitchenware. Not because the person necessarily wanted something moderne, but rather, they needed a new toaster and what was available was in the new streamline style.

Manufacturers recognizing the limitation of their clients scrambled to meet their needs, and budgets, while completing for their business.

Chase Brass & Copper, Co, retooled stock items into attractive household goods.

Revere, Co, already with their diverse catalogue, adapted fairly quickly to the changing market.

Kensington, Co, with the introduction of wares from that newly available metal, aluminum, was originally one of the most expensive of the giftware lines at the time.

As with most companies, Bruce-Hunt adapted to changing time. Yet they didn’t want to alienate their base clients. Giftware was available in both traditional and current styles. And some, like the tray above, successfully straddled the two.

We were unaware of Bruce Hunt until a few years ago with the contentious purchase of a vase. I liked it. And in a rare example of disagreement, Anthony did not.

It clearly bears the Bruce Hunt hallmark and neither of us thought much beyond that.

Last summer I picked up this pair of Bruce Hunt candlesticks at my local Goodwill. Since this is now technically a collection (3 or more pieces!) I decided it was time to start delving into Bruce Hunt.

And I would love to find the matching candelabra.

After months or research, what I found is – not a lot. While items are easily found online for sale, scant references are made to the designers and / or company.

Bruce-Hunt Company was apparently well known at the time and quite successful. This is evident in their advertising campaign featured in higher end magazines of the day. And this makes the mystery of the lack of information even more intriguing.

Although chrome is predominately featured, a variety of finishes are available.

Unfortunately, just as there is little information available on Bruce Hunt Company, there is little to nothing of the designers. And, I hope to update the article if, or when I find more information. If you have anything to add, please let us know.

Thanks for joining us!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

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Other Kensington items from my collection, all bought for less than $15.00 – –

So the next time you are at a flea market looking for a genuine deco piece, don’t pass up these shiny and very affordable items.

Anthony & Chris

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