How can you separate yourself from such a design piece?
The auction is taking place on Wednesday the 17th of August 2011, at 6 pm in Sydney (Australia) at the auction house Shapiro, 162 Queen Street, Woollhara, 2025.
Viewing for people on site from Saturday the 6th until auction date from 11am till 5pm.
http://shapiro.com.au/lots/giordano-robbiati-10552/
Enquiries to be made per phone: 02 9326 1588
or email: info@shapiro.com.au
Click here to Download a Bid Form
A unique chance to add this prestige object to your collection.
A unique chance to add this prestige object to your collection.
I was planning to talk about this coffee machine much later on this blog but can't miss the opportunity.
Just a few facts.
These machines "Martian electric express" (just to state their real name) were manufactured in Novate Milanese, a small town in the suburbs of Milan, in Giordano Robbiati's business "Brevetti Robbiati".
The patent number 548481 is a complete mystery. (Patent numbers were 5 digits in Italy in the 50s... so where has it been patented?)
In the italian databank, you'll find it dated 1988...
In the U.S.A. , an application number in 1934...
The Italian "ornamentale" patent number for this coffee machine is 59069 and is dated 4th of February 1956.
(more information on italian patents here: http://unasalusvictisnullamsperaresalutem.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-many-patents-for-coffee-machine.html )
I do not agree with the auctioneers on the denomination "prototype".
These coffee machines "Martian Electric Expresss", of which 3 different variations exist, were commercialized in the U.K. by A.&M.G. Sassoon as soon as 1957.
In the Unites States, you could purchase them in 2 department stores - "Lord and Taylor" and "Altman's" in New York City for the price of $130 in 1957.
The fact that there are so few remaining examples reflects their purpose at that time:
They were not made for domestic use.
Mr. Robbiati saw their use in various settlements: offices, clubs, colleges, convents, inns, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, embassies, consulates...
... but not only... with its 18 cups capacity, he thought it would also suit - What else? - large families... We're in Italy, right?
Best of luck for the auction!!!
A beautiful machine indeed... (sigh)
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