Norman Bel Geddes, Norman Bel Geddes & Co., Revere Copper & Brass, Inc.
“Empire” Shaker
1929-1939
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Norman Bel Geddes, Norman Bel Geddes & Co., Revere Copper & Brass, Inc.
“Empire” Shaker
1929-1939
Physical Qualities
Chrome, steel, bakelite, 12 1/8 × 3 × 6 3/4 in. (30.8 × 7.6 × 17.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Friends of Art Fund
Object Number
1986.77.1
PLASTIC
These objects made of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, are lightweight yet durable. Invented in 1907, Bakelite was used in radios, clocks, machinery, household goods, and jewelry by the 1930s. Made in both factories and family-owned workshops, the material was popular during the Great Depression (1929–1939) as an alternative to costly metals and gems. Both department store shoppers and international celebrities, such as Josephine Baker, sought out its varied finishes. On April 28, 1941, Life magazine published a photo of a woman wearing a heart-shaped Bakelite pin with key dubbed the “MacArthur Heart.” This reference to U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and the Purple Heart medal became an emblem of female patriotism during the industrious war-time period.
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