| Description:
You are viewing an exquisite and
unique vintage tray made by Couroc of Monterey, California c. 1960's. The
label indicates c.1960-69. These handsome Couroc inlaid
trays are becoming quite a collectable item. This tray features a Ring Neck Pheasant. The black tray is made of (Phenolic) Bakelite. The inlay artist design is
fantastic, from the wood inlaid wing feathers and tail to the red breast and
green head. He also has metal outlining his feathers and brass for his
legs and the foliage surrounding him. This large retro tray still has it's original factory sticker on the
back. A wonderful collectible to use and display. I believe that
this design is unique, possibly rare.
Condition:
Good condition, no
cracks or chips, only flaws are some light staining and scratches to the
black bakelite, from
use.
Approximate
measurements: 18" L,
by 12 1/2" W.
Couroc of Monterey History: Couroc
was formed in 1948 by the husband and wife team of Guthrie Sayle Courvoisier (?
- 1969) and Moira Wallace (~1910-1979) . Wallace was a gifted artist, whose
early work included mosaic designs built from inlaid metal and plastic
materials. Guthrie developed the technology further, and began Couroc company,
which produced heavy, durable plastic trays with inlaid designs.
Guthrie Courvoisier had learned about plastic
during World War II, when he was a contractor who manufactured certain plastic
parts for military aircraft. (Plastics were essential to the war effort, for
their rather unique qualities.) Like nearly all wartime plastics, Courvoisier's
were probably jet-black, unlike the multicolored bakelite of decades prior.
In the mid-1950's the company's sales picked
up, and it already had a few different designs in its product line. Sales seem
to have been mostly in the California
area at this time.
The company made a special effort to hire
local artists for their design work.
As
the company slowly grew, it created numerous designs, and began expanding its
product line beyond merely trays, so that customers could buy
matched sets of trays, glasses, ice buckets, and even napkins. In the 1970's
Couroc exploded in popularity, selling well in stores across the nation.
By the mid-1980’s, Couroc's popularity had
dropped, and the company was shifting from producing items for the general
public, to making promotional items (for sales to corporations or organizations
commemorating special events.) In the 1990's, it turned almost exclusively to
promotional items.
Today, the company can no longer be found,
its presses and buildings sold. But the field of collecting Couroc artwork has
only just begun...
This
is a truly handsome and unique vintage item.
MD205WT6 |