Vintage Piels Beer Serving Tray Appraisal

Vintage Piel's Beer Serving Tray

This is a vintage, circular metal serving tray advertising Piel's Beer. The tray features a dark blue rim and base color, while the central graphic area is off-white. The main illustration depicts two male cartoon characters, presumably 'Harry Piel' and 'Bert Piel,' the mascots for Piel's Beer at the time. The character on the left, identified by a small badge on his tuxedo lapel as 'I'm Harry Piel', is bald, wearing a blue tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie, holding a tall glass of beer. The character on the right, also identified by a badge on his lapel as 'Bert Piel', has some curly hair, a slightly larger nose, and is wearing a blue jacket over a yellow argyle-patterned vest and a red tie, pointing upwards with his right hand. Text on the tray reads 'ENJOY PIELS BEER' on the left, 'NOW!' above the pointing character, and 'The beer with a barrel of flavor...because it's cool-brewed' along the bottom edge of the graphic. There's also small text 'PIEL BROS. BROOKLYN N.Y.' visible, indicating the brewery's location. The tray exhibits significant wear and tear consistent with its age and material; there are numerous areas of rust, particularly around the edges and scattered across the white graphic area, indicating paint loss and metal exposure. The surface appears somewhat dull and distressed, suggesting a lack of regular cleaning or protective storage. The overall condition suggests this item has been used frequently or stored in less-than-ideal conditions, contributing to its authentic vintage patina. The graphic, despite the rust, is still largely intact and legible. This item likely dates from the mid-20th century, probably the 1950s or 1960s, given the advertising style and the Piel's Beer mascots' popularity during that era. It serves as a nostalgic piece of breweriana and advertising history.