MID-AMERICA + THE PLAINS.
Home Decor / Kitchen Decor, Decorative Tray, Souvenir, c. 1960s.
A black metal serving / bar tray with decorative tan trim frames a map of North Dakota, central to the theme. As part of the design, these trays also included miniature site illustrations, North Dakota’s showcasing wildlife and its outdoor recreation opportunities, what is likely a wheat farm (for which the state was known), the “Internat’l Peace Gardens” along the Canadian border, the state capital of Bismarck, extensive Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt Nat’l Park in its southwest corner. There are also dozens of place names from Bowbells and Minot in the north to Napoleon and Fargo in the south. The map is ringed by a colored decorative element: the Wild Prairie Rose. This tray is in “Like New” condition given it is over half-a-century old, having come to us as part of a large lot that we guess was bought for a souvenir shop, but never made it to the shelves, having likely been forgotten in a basement or in storage until now … 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 the 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 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 / 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, small local general stores, and even popular department stores all across America.
Condition: Used Very Good.
Local / Regional Areas.
Dimensions: 11" diameter x 0.5" deep / 8 oz
