Industrial Design of the Week - Victor Breeze Spreader

While making the rounds of antique stores in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, one piece caught my eye for its distinctive design.  The Victor Breeze Spreader fan is highly functional with slats that can be positioned to direct the breeze.  The overall look is curiously industrial.  At first glance, I guessed it came from the 1900-1925.  Surprisingly, even though the look is more Art Nouveau than Art Deco, it is actually from the Deco era in the early 1930s. 

Why did I think Art Nouveau?  The shape of the guard and the overall form of the motor housing strike me as a simplified expression of Nouvea.  Nothing about this device is in the streamlined or stepped forms typical of Art Deco.

I fell in love with this fan.  It is all about function with just enough ornamentation to make it appropriate for a home or office.  It typifies objects that were built to last decades as opposed to the modern equivalent that might make it a few years.

I wonder if Restoration Hardware has cloned it yet?

Globe of the Month

While the title implies that I will post images of great globes on a monthly basis, that conclusion would be overly optimistic.  However, I could not resist showing off this particular globe.  It isn't in the best shape, but the framework is sublime - solid brass and all.

Spotted in the Kansas City West Bottoms antique market zone.