Hans Brinker pewter tray

Hi, I have a pewter tray that portrays Hans Brinker. I cannot find anything like it and there are no marks to indicate who made it or where it was made. The tray itself is about 4.5" by 3" exclusive of the body extending out from it. I will appreciate any kind of help. View attachment 218358 View attachment 218359 View attachment 218360 View attachment 218361 View attachment 218362 View attachment 218363 View attachment 218358 View attachment 218359 View attachment 218360 View attachment 218361 View attachment 218362 View attachment 218363

 

Kevolee - did you delete your photos?

 

So sorry, I was in a hurry in addition to not knowing how to navigate here.

 

Without any marks at all, finding out more info will be tough, unless you can do a Google image search with a clean picture of the front straight on and are lucky enough to get some hits on ebay or pinterest.

 

Tray or ash tray?

Debora

 

OP says it's 4.5 in by 3 in not including the part of the boy that extends beyond the main part. Not really big enough for a tray to carry stuff. (and with a 3-dimensional design, not appropriate for carrying more than paper.

 

From condition, it does appear to have been used as an ash tray.

Debora

 

I've seen two of these before. I don't remember what the marks were. One local auctioneer cataloged one as sterling though the mark clearly indicated it wasn't.

 

Might be a pin tray. Maybe for catching cuff links, loose change etc.
Appears someone did use it as an ashtray.

Looks like cast aluminum.
So I'm going to guess 1940ish date.

 

Yes, I was thinking a dresser top type tray for change and that sort of thing. I thought aluminum too but it does seem to be a little heavy for that. But it also seems harder than pewter, no give at all. I was thinking several of the marks were from acid where somebody tested for silver, but whatever, it is a little rough. Not sure either if trying to clean it would be a good idea or even how to clean it.

 

I clean everything.
A good soap and water bath. Dawn detergent on a toothbrush ought to suds it up real good, and get in the crevices, then rinse thoroughly.
That's what I would do. Wait and see if someone else has a better idea.

 

seems there is a hotel in Amsterdam by the name of Hans Brinker. would fit with the ice skating Hosenscheisser and the mill.

 

seems to refer to a novel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Brinker,_or_The_Silver_Skates

 

You know... I think it's a leap to identify that figure as Hans Brinker (who was 15 in the book.) To my eye, looks like a generic young boy on skates with two friends.

Debora

 

Is that a stamp I see? Fourth pic, bottom right.

 

do you see another Brinker that makes sense ? it's a fantasy figure out of a US novel.

 

I am very familiar with the character of Hans Brinker, having read the well-known and well-loved book as a child (as did my mother and her mother before me.) However, there is nothing on the ash tray that identifies this skating figure as him specifically. And, as I said above, Hans Brinker was a teenager, not a young boy.

Debora

 

I see what you are talking about and I guess it is an optical illusion. Tried a magnifying glass and flashlight and nada.