Wedding Invitation Tray Appraisal

Engraved Commemorative Wedding Invitation Tray

This item is a vintage rectangular commemorative metal tray, likely manufactured as a keepsake from a social event. It is constructed from a base metal, possibly copper or brass, which was originally silver-plated. The plating has significantly worn away, particularly along the raised scalloped edges and corners, revealing the warm, orangish-brown copper-toned metal beneath. The tray features four distinct notched rests at the corners, indicating it was designed to function as an ashtray or a change tray. The central field contains a deeply engraved wedding invitation in an elegant cursive script, notable for being etched in reverse (mirror image). The text references the marriage of Marie Bell to Mr. Thomas Noel Saffold at the First Baptist Church in Eatonton, Georgia, on Saturday, October 22nd. The overall condition shows extensive surface wear, including heavy oxidation, loss of silvering, scratches, and minor dark spotting or pitting. The craftsmanship reflects early to mid-20th-century custom engraving, with the script exhibiting refined calligraphic flourishes. The reverse text suggests it may have been created from a printing plate or was intended to be viewed through a specific medium, though it was ultimately formed into this tray shape.