Mid Century Tray
These mid century tray pieces bring useful surface and distinct metalwork into a room.
Mid Century Tray
A mid century tray spans silver plate, glass, and metal objects designed for serving or desktop use. Buyers find items ranging from modernist Italian pieces to earlier serving surfaces.
The selection includes vide poche dishes, silver plated trays, and cocktail accessories from the mid twentieth century. These items function as practical tabletop accessories or decorative displays.
Origins include English, Italian, and French workshops, utilising materials from silver plate to papier-mâché. Each object reflects the design priorities of its respective decade.
Materials and Construction
Makers utilised silver plate and brass, often combining metal with glass or enamel for colour and contrast. Construction techniques involve casting, plating, and detailed surface finishing.
Papier-mâché and wood appear alongside metalwork, featuring gilded borders or inlaid brass decoration. These diverse materials determine the weight and durability of each tray.
Mid Century Tray Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for mid century tray among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several items double as horse head novelties, ensuring your pocket change rests safely inside an equestrian sculpture.
Distinctions in Quality
Quality rests in the crispness of casting and the integrity of the silver plating over the base metal. Superior examples display clean joints and deliberate weight.
Maker attribution and refined surface decoration elevate specific items above standard production pieces. The clarity of enamel work and the precision of bamboo or metal handles define the better specimens.
Hermes Paris·Coalbrookdale·Ralph Lauren·Maria Pergay·Liberty And Co
The Mid Century Tray Glossary
- Vide poche
- A small tray or dish intended for emptying pockets of coins and keys. These items sit upon hall tables or desks.
- Old Sheffield Plated
- A metal composite made by fusing a thin sheet of silver to a copper core. This technique predates modern electroplating.
- Tôle peinte
- Painted or lacquered sheet metal, typically iron or steel. This finish creates decorative surfaces on trays and household objects.
- Paktong
- A copper-nickel-zinc alloy originating from China, used for candlesticks and metalware. It mimics the appearance of silver.
- Agate cabochon
- A polished, convex gemstone set into metalwork as a decorative accent. These stones appear on desk accessories.
Mid Century Tray: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vide poche?
A vide poche translates as an empty pocket dish used for holding small daily items.
These pieces sit on desks or hall tables to collect coins and keys.
How do I clean silver plated trays?
Silver plate requires gentle cleaning with a soft cloth and specialised polish.
Harsh abrasives damage the thin silver layer over the base metal.
Where were these trays made?
The inventory includes pieces from English, Italian, French, and Scandinavian workshops.
Each region applied distinct regional styles and material combinations.
Can these trays be used daily?
Most metal and glass pieces handle everyday use as desk or serving accessories.
Papier-mâché items require more care to protect the surface finish.