Iowa Miniature Metal Tray / Ashtray Souvenir

MID-AMERICA + THE PLAINS. 
Home Decor / Kitchen Decor, Decorative Tray, Souvenir, c. 1950s. 

These small metal trinket trays / ashtrays (which incorporated tell-tale cigarette rest notches) were very popular for a run of years following World War II. Sold in souvenir shops across America and Canada when smoking was still very much a mainstream habit, these trays, each with a specific regional connection, were bought as memorabilia of trips taken / sights-seen and certainly given as gifts to family and friends. The trays were mass-produced by way of intricate custom molds, be it a state or a site, with the finished piece lightly hand-painted to pull out details unique to each tray. The rim would contain the title and notable details, Iowa’s highlighting the state’s agriculture and outdoor recreation via corn, livestock, and pheasant. The state trays featured a map that played loose with actual locations, the point more so to pack in all the notable spots, Iowa’s highlighting (from east to west): Waterloo, Davenport, Ottumwa, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs, as well as others. As with all the small trays in this souvenir series, it bears the mark: “Japan.” This will seem curious considering the violent events of the early-mid 20th century. Here is a bit more background … Following Japan’s surrender in September 1945 ending World War II, Japan was a military occupied country. This continued until the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1952 returned national sovereignty to the island nation. Once international trade was allowed to resume in 1947, the General Headquarters of the Allied Forces (GHQ a mostly American military government charged with running the conquered nation) mandated that export items carry the label: “Made in Occupied Japan.” The directive was updated in 1949 for use minus the word “Occupied.” As a result these two labels “Made in Occupied Japan” and “Made in Japan” (often just “Japan”) can be dated with specificity to the 15 years following the Second World War. They have become markers for valuable vintage memorabilia. [Even smaller than others in this series, this tray is in good condition with only slight age-related wear around the right rim. There is even the original, if faint, price tag on the back, this tray bought in the 1950s at a Woolworth’s for the quite reasonable price of: 25¢!] 

Condition: Used Very Good. 
Local / Regional Areas. 
Dimensions: 3.75” wide x 2.75” high x 0.25” deep / 3 oz