Exhibition Guide

Designer: Lurelle Van Arsdale Guild, Manufacturer: Electrolux Corporation. Vacuum Cleaner. 1937. Baltimore Museum of Art, Gift of Preston Birckner, Baltimore, BMA 1997.95

Vacuum Cleaner

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    Ashley Minner Jones Admires This Vacuum Cleaner

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Art Object Info

Medium:
Chrome-plated, polished, and enameled steel; cast aluminum, vinyl, and rubber
Size:
Depth: 7"
Width: 24"
Height: 9"
Date:
1937

The reflective surfaces of these kitchen tools mimic the glass and metallic exteriors of metropolitan buildings, uniting the aesthetics of the Machine Age with the art of cooking. Single-purpose appliances with electric motors replaced the labor of toasting, chopping, squeezing, and blending previously performed by household help in wealthy homes. Encased in stylish chrome-plated designs, these objects reflect a conceptual shift for kitchens from a workshop for preparing food to a culinary laboratory engineered for efficiency.

Gift of Preston Birckner, Baltimore BMA 1997.95

Vacuum Cleaner

Date:
1937
Medium:
Chrome-plated, polished, and enameled steel; cast aluminum, vinyl, and rubber
Size:
Depth: 7"
Width: 24"
Height: 9"

The reflective surfaces of these kitchen tools mimic the glass and metallic exteriors of metropolitan buildings, uniting the aesthetics of the Machine Age with the art of cooking. Single-purpose appliances with electric motors replaced the labor of toasting, chopping, squeezing, and blending previously performed by household help in wealthy homes. Encased in stylish chrome-plated designs, these objects reflect a conceptual shift for kitchens from a workshop for preparing food to a culinary laboratory engineered for efficiency.

Gift of Preston Birckner, Baltimore BMA 1997.95