Thermos model no. 539
Designer
Henry Dreyfuss(American, 1904–1972)American, 1904–1972
ManufacturerManufactured by
The American Thermos Bottle Company(American, est. 1907)American, est. 1907
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Thermos model no. 539
DateDesigned 1935, manufactured 1936–1939
Made inUnited States
MediumAluminum, enamel, glass, and rubber
DimensionsOverall: 5 7/8 × 6 × 5 in. (14.9 × 15.2 × 12.7 cm)
Overall (.A): 5 1/2 × 6 × 5 in. (14 × 15.2 × 12.7 cm)
Overall (.B): 7/8 × 2 1/2 × 1 7/8 in. (2.2 × 6.4 × 4.8 cm)
Overall (.A): 5 1/2 × 6 × 5 in. (14 × 15.2 × 12.7 cm)
Overall (.B): 7/8 × 2 1/2 × 1 7/8 in. (2.2 × 6.4 × 4.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of the estate of Ira J. Jackson
Object number2013.355.A,.B
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
Decorative Arts, Craft, and DesignObject Type
Exhibition History“Recent Accessions in Design,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, April18–August 10, 2014.
Published References Flinchum, Russell and Andrea Codrington, "Henry Dreyfuss: Designing the American Dream," I.D. 44.2 (March/April 1997): 60-67. Flinchum, Russell. Henry Dreyfuss Industrial Designer: The Man in the Brown Suit. New York: Rizzoli and Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, 1997. McLendon, Sandy, "Shaping America: The Product Designs of Henry Dreyfuss," Modernism Magazine 8 (2005): 92-99. Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Embossed on bottom - outer ring: THE AMERICAN THERMOS BOTTLE CO. / NORWICH. CONN. U.S.A.
Embossed on bottom - inside ring: THE ONLY / THERMOS / REG. U.S. PAT. OFFICE / No 539 / VACUUM BOTTLE / DESIGNED BY / HENRY DREYFUSS
Sticker on bottom in handwritten black ink: Aluminum / Enamel / Glass Linen
Sticker on bottom in handwritten black ink: Henrey / Dreyfuss / 1934
Embossed on bottom - inside ring: THE ONLY / THERMOS / REG. U.S. PAT. OFFICE / No 539 / VACUUM BOTTLE / DESIGNED BY / HENRY DREYFUSS
Sticker on bottom in handwritten black ink: Aluminum / Enamel / Glass Linen
Sticker on bottom in handwritten black ink: Henrey / Dreyfuss / 1934
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
Seth Papac
2010
Silver, brass, aluminum, enameled steel, plastic, fiberglass, glass, rubber, paper, resin, and powder enamel
2011.1037.A-.H
Susan Hamlet
1985
Hastelloy, aluminum, bronze, stainless steel, plastic, and rubber
2018.289.A,.B
Joel A. Rosenthal
designed 2017, made 2025
Silver, bronze, aluminum, enamel, diamonds and gold
2025.732
Victor Lucena
1991
Wood, cloth, gold leaf, metal, rubber, glass, lead, fabric, paint, aluminum, and brass
2015.92.1-.14
Faye Toogood
2020
Zinc-coated steel, cast aluminum, and acrylic paint
2025.186
Walter Dorwin Teague
Designed 1939, made 1939–1941
Bakelite, aluminum, cellulose film, and bulb
2007.468
