What's this Mystery Object?

Join us in this game to guess what on earth we're looking at

By Google Arts & Culture

Coffee Urn (ca. 1935) by Russel WrightBrooklyn Museum

Hello and welcome to another Mystery Object. The rules of the game are simple: we've chosen another mystery object from the Google Arts & Culture collections, and we're going to give you five facts to help you work out what on earth it is…

1

With its aluminium sphere, perforated stand, and protruding walnut handles, it looks more like something from outer space. But this object was designed to be kept a little closer to home…

2

This object isn't too big, but it isn't too small. It measures 40cm tall, 33cm wide, and 21cm from front to back. So, it's about the right size for keeping on a table.

3

We know it's aluminium, so it can't be too old (aluminium was only discovered in 1825), and its sleek, minimal design looks like other objects from the early 20th Century. In fact, we'll give you another clue; it was made around 1935.

4

This mystery object was made in America, and seemingly never left the country. It was owned by the art collector Paul F. Walter, and today, you'll find it in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, New York.

5

Just one more clue… take a look at this piece. It looks something like a tap. In fact it is. This object contains a liquid of some kind… rocket fuel?

The mystery object is… a coffee urn! It was made around 1935 by the American industrial designer Russel Wright. Wright was well known for introducing modern design and materials to the average American home.

Vase (ca. 1951) by Russel WrightBrooklyn Museum

Wright's designs were sold across the United States, and the popularity of his furniture, homeware, textiles, and ceramics helped to define the domestic styles of the mid-20th Century.

Carafe (1939/1959) by Russel WrightOriginal Source: https://rb.gy/tf2y4a

Thanks for joining us for another Mystery Object! How did you do? While you're here, why not take a look at some of Russel Wright's other works, such as this curvaceous carafe at the The Goldstein Museum of Design.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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