Posted 7 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
This commemorative (I guess?) is made of smoked glass and measures about 7" x 9". It features a gilt-pattern around its outer edge, with images of the name, front entrance doors, and main lobby of the BANK OF GALESBURG. (Illinois) I believe it was likely produced on the occasion of a major remodeling of the bank lobby (as depicted) sometime in the 1960's, but truly don't know any more about it.
Looks like an ashtray.
You might be quite correct in that Gillian -- I'm just being a little conservative (?) in my description since, with my "today's eyes", I can't imagine the idea of 'grinding cigarette butts out' on such a pretty thing... <eeek>
This and thousands of similar trays were made by the Houze Art Glass Company. They were largely commissioned as souvenirs and presentation pieces and can be found from a large number of businesses. How these pieces were used once they got home is anybody's guess but if the gold is printed on the surface, it was likely not intended to be an ashtray.
Nice bank give away item-- I remember when many different establishments had customer give- aways on a regular basis.
No cigarette rests on it, so it wouldn't appear to be an ashtray. Maybe intended to be a dresser tray for loose change.
scott
Thanks so very much to fortapache, racer4four, and dlpeterson for the <loves> and especially to artfoot and scottvez for sharing your comments!! The gold coating is indeed on its surface, so I havta still lean towards this having been mostly intended as a 'display piece'. Thank you artfoot for the clue that this was made by Houze Glass (no marks on it that I've found?) and I agree that these must have been produced in rather large numbers -- I've seen other variations myself, with different 'corporate art' decoration.