Brass Balls and Bold Statements

By the early 1970s, Lucite was already being used to preserve tombstone ads. But one deal toy changed everything—and it didn’t include a single word.

It was a cube.
Made of Lucite.
Inside: just two brass balls.

No text. No logo. No client name. Just a bold, visual message.

The piece commemorated the 1973 merger of Drexel and Firestone, a high-stakes transaction that helped create what would eventually become Drexel Burnham Lambert. And the symbolism was crystal clear:

They had the brass balls to pull it off.

This wasn’t just a clever gag. It marked a turning point in the evolution of deal toys. They were no longer just records of a transaction. They were becoming reflections of tone, style, confidence, and culture.

And while not every client wants brass balls in their Lucite today, the principle behind it still holds true:

The best deal toys say something—without needing to say much.

At Polaris, we help clients tell those stories through material, form, and symbolism—crafting pieces that make an impact long after the closing dinner ends.