Toaster

Manufacturer Birtman Electric Co. (Chicago, Illinois) American

1932

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 912

Dreyfuss began his career as a stage designer, and then turned to industrial design. This design for a "Visible Toaster" has a certain theatricality, as one can watch the bread brown through the glass window. The plastic base and handles and the polished chrome body are hallmarks of 1930s industrial design, as is the absence of ornamentation other than striations on the sides of the toaster.

Artwork Details

Title: Toaster
Designer: Henry Dreyfuss (American, New York 1904–1972 South Pasedena, California)
Manufacturer: Birtman Electric Co. (Chicago, Illinois)
Date: 1932
Medium: Chrome-plated metal, plastic, glass
Dimensions: 8 1/4 × 7 7/8 × 4 5/8 in. (21 × 20 × 11.7 cm)
Classification: Metalwork
Credit Line: John C. Waddell Collection, Gift of John C. Waddell, 2000
Object Number: 2000.600.5
Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

More Artwork

By Henry Dreyfuss

In the same gallery

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Slotted Spoon, Henry Dreyfuss American, Metal, painted wood — Slotted Spoon
Henry Dreyfuss
The Washburn Company (Worcester, Massachusetts)
1934

"20th Century Limited" Flatware, Henry Dreyfuss American, Silverplate, steel — "20th Century Limited" Flatware
Henry Dreyfuss
International Silver Company, Meriden, Connecticut
1938

Tray, Henry Dreyfuss American, Enamel and aluminum — Tray
Henry Dreyfuss
The American Thermos Bottle Company (Norwich, Connecticut)
1935

Potato Masher, Henry Dreyfuss American, Metal, painted wood — Potato Masher
Henry Dreyfuss
The Washburn Company (Worcester, Massachusetts)
1934

Thermos carafe, Henry Dreyfuss American, Enamel, aluminum, cork — Thermos carafe
Henry Dreyfuss
The American Thermos Bottle Company (Norwich, Connecticut)
1935

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.