PACIFIC + SOUTHWEST.
Home Decor / Kitchen Decor, Decorative Tray, Souvenir, c. 1950s.
A black metal serving / bar tray with decorative gold trim frames a map of the Aloha State, Hawai’i, central to the theme. As part of the design, these trays often included miniature state site illustrations. But given the amount of space, this tray sticks to showcasing Diamond Head on O’ahu and Mt. Mauna Loa on “The Big Island,” Hawai’i. And yet all the main islands are here (from west to east): Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, Hawaiʻi. The place name map is ringed by two colored decorative elements: the Hibiscus and Orchid flowers. The front is close to “like new” condition (the back of the tray receiving less kind treatment through the years). The gold map outline, gold rim with black wave element, and gold back point to this being an original Nash Co. production. It comes with one of the original two pack-of-3 coaster sets … The combination of detailed state map and regional decoration was the pattern for this popular home decor / barware souvenir. Produced for tourist shop shelves, the series covered all 50 states (if often combining a few of the smaller ones) and came in black, white, and even the occasional cool green. The many series of these trays, with some also including low-depth snack bowls, is identifiable for that wave-like swirl detail decorating the rim. The original hand-painted series was produced in the 1950s by Nash Co. of New York, with the most notable line sporting a sharp speckled gold finish. However, there were other manufacturers such as Meldrums Manufacturing of St. Paul, Minnesota. All stuck close to the same design. These trays and bowls were found in popular roadside restaurant gift shops from the late 1950s into the 1970s, places such as Stuckey's (southern U.S., Midwest and Plains states), Howard Johnsons (starting in the Northeast, but having spread coast to coast by the 1960s), as well as in stand-alone souvenir shops and even popular department stores all across America.
Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, Hawaiʻi.
Condition: Used Very Good.
Local / Regional Areas.
Dimensions: 11" diameter x 0.5" deep (3" diameter for each coaster) / 10 oz
