Featured Antique French Mirror Tray with Chrome Handles & Ball Feet

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Sarah Forde, Apr 15, 2016.

  1. Sarah Forde

    Sarah Forde New Member

    Hi there

    Would welcome any information on this beautiful tray I purchased in France last week. It has ball feet which unscrew & you can remove the handles.

    The etching is of wheat - beautiful tray in fantastic condition.

    I think 1940's - could be wrong?

    Any idea on value?

    Many thanks!
     
    Sarah Forde, Apr 15, 2016
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  2. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Sarah.
    Your pictures are located in the gallery where not many people go, they are set to private so no one can open the links.
    When you reply to this post you will see a box marked "Upload a File" click that and add photo`s there, also click full size, so they can be seen in the body of the post rather than thumbnails.
     
    daveydempsey, Apr 15, 2016
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  3. Sarah Forde

    Sarah Forde New Member

    Sarah Forde, Apr 15, 2016
    #3 + Quote Reply
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  4. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    Are there any marks on the undersides of the handles?
     
    Bookahtoo, Apr 15, 2016
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  5. Sarah Forde

    Sarah Forde New Member

    No :-(
     
    Sarah Forde, Apr 15, 2016
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  6. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi Sarah,
    The wheat pattern became very popular in the early 50s. Especially for dishes and glasses. Your mirror tray has lovely lines.
    greg
     
    gregsglass, Apr 15, 2016
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  7. antidiem

    antidiem Well-Known Member

    It's a lovely tray. What is that green tape on the side?
     
    antidiem, Apr 15, 2016
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  8. Sarah Forde

    Sarah Forde New Member

    T
    There isn't any green tape, must just be the light ?
     
    Sarah Forde, Apr 15, 2016
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  9. afantiques

    afantiques Well-Known Member

    I am more inclined to the 1960s. Europe in the forties was mostly concerned with destruction, both self and others. Economically the European countries involved in WWII were wrecked, it was into the 50s before any new decorative trends materialised This harks back to a shape inspired by art deco with non deco decoration, and chrome plating, discovered for consumer goods in the 30s was again popular in the 60s.

    People tend to forget that there was no smooth evolution of style in the 20th C. The First World War caused a massive shift in taste among the survivors, as did WWII. Very little dates from the 1940s apart from classics of military equipment like the German Tiger tank and the British Sten gun.

    Tea sets and dressing table trays were not a high priority.
     
    afantiques, Apr 15, 2016
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  10. Shangas

    Shangas Underage Antiques Collector and Historian

    AF is right. I'm always very hesitant to believe people when they say they have something that was made in the 1940s. The 40s and 50s were times of war and later, reconstruction. Nobody had the time, money or interest to be buying pretty, fancy things for the home during this period. Most people couldn't even afford to buy furniture because of timber shortages, so the chances that they'd blow what little money they had on a silver tea tray seems very minuscule.

    A lot of the pre-war styles lasted into the 50s. So an art-deco-ish style tray wouldn't be that out of place in 1950-1955.
     
    Shangas, Apr 15, 2016
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  11. Sarah Forde

    Sarah Forde New Member

    Thank you!
     
    Sarah Forde, Apr 15, 2016
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  12. Mary Delaney

    Mary Delaney Well-Known Member

    the flower reminds me of thistle.
     
    Mary Delaney, Apr 15, 2016
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  13. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    It's a cornflower, or botanically centaurea. Grows in amongst cornfields - the wheat kind, not the maize. ;)
     
    Ownedbybear, Apr 16, 2016
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  14. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

    Gotta say, to my eye, this piece looks circa 1930s - wheat motifs, including those paired with cornflowers, were popular in different design eras, and it was definitely used quite a bit during the Art Deco period.

    A few somewhat similar trays, noting that none of the sellers provide any provenance or citations for their dating...

    Different handles, but with ball feet and similarly attached:

    https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/d...are/french-mirrored-vanity-tray/id-f_2474883/

    https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/d...ed-mirrored-tray-chrome-handles/id-f_3343373/

    http://www.deco-world.com/art_deco_drinks_tray_03.htm

    Similarly shaped handles, though not as nicely made:

    http://www.omerohome.com/product/art-deco-mirrored-vanity-tray

    http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/321735236081?_mwBanner=1

    Regarding 1940s wartime production of luxury goods, it was certainly curtailed, especially in Europe, but continued on, verifiable by the hallmarks on British silver, including full tea services...

    ~Cheryl
     
    DragonflyWink, Apr 16, 2016
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  15. Sarah Forde

    Sarah Forde New Member


    Thank you so much Cheryl!
     
    Sarah Forde, Apr 18, 2016
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