Souvenir of Washington D.C. Metal Tray 1950s to 1960s Japan Mt Vernon Capitol

This Souvenir of Washington D.C. metal tray is a vintage embossed tourist keepsake made in Japan, likely dating to the 1950s to 1960s, with gold and black illustrations of Washington's Mansion at Mount Vernon and the U.S. Capitol.

The tray is solid, with detailed graphics still visible on the front. The gold finish shows scratches, rubbing, and darkened areas, while the back has heavier surface wear.

Souvenir trays like this were popular travel keepsakes during the mid 20th century, when Japanese manufacturers produced decorative metal pieces for American tourist destinations. This one brings together two familiar landmarks, George Washington's Mount Vernon home in Virginia and the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The raised floral border and gold background give it the look of an older souvenir meant to be kept and displayed.

Details

• Item: Souvenir of Washington D.C. metal tray
• Item Type: Embossed metal souvenir tray
• Era: Likely 1950s to 1960s
• Materials: Lightweight pressed metal with decorative metallic finish. Exact metal composition not confirmed 
• Color: Gold and bronze tones with black detailing
• Maker and Mark: MADE IN JAPAN stamped on the back. Manufacturer not confirmed from photos.
• Pattern or Model: Souvenir of Washington D.C., featuring Washington's Mansion at Mount Vernon and the U.S. Capitol
• Style: Mid century travel souvenir, embossed Americana
• Dimensions: 8.5 inches long by 3 inches wide. Thickness not confirmed from photos. Product weight 5 oz.
• Special Features: Two embossed architectural illustrations, decorative floral and scrollwork border, gold background, black detailing, and MADE IN JAPAN marking.

Condition Grade: Good

Positives

• Graded Good: This is a solid vintage souvenir tray with attractive embossed graphics and visible surface wear on both sides.
• The rectangular shape remains intact, with rounded corners and a narrow raised edge.
• The illustration of Washington's Mansion at Mount Vernon retains recognizable architectural details, including the front columns, roofline, and surrounding landscape.
• The U.S. Capitol illustration remains clearly recognizable, with its dome, columns, and broad building facade.
• Both landmark captions remain readable.
• The bottom banner reads SOUVENIR OF WASHINGTON D.C.
• The raised floral border includes flowers, leaves, and decorative scrollwork around the two landmark scenes.
• The contrasting black and gold finish helps the architectural illustrations stand out.
• The MADE IN JAPAN marking remains readable on the back.
• At 8.5 inches long, the tray is a compact piece for displaying with travel memorabilia, historical souvenirs, or an Americana collection.

Issues / Wear

• The gold background shows numerous fine scratches, rubbing, and small dark spots.
• The black detailing has uneven wear, particularly around the raised floral border and architectural scenes.
• Sections of the metallic finish have darkened, giving the surface an uneven appearance.
• The back has extensive scratches, scuffs, dark marks, and finish loss.
• Several darker patches and spots are visible across the back, especially toward the center and upper areas.
• The edges and corners show rubbing and wear to the finish.
• The tray has visible signs of handling and use, but the main illustrations and lettering remain recognizable.

If you collect Washington D.C. souvenirs or vintage American travel memorabilia, this gold and black tray brings Mount Vernon and the U.S. Capitol together in one compact display piece. If it's the one you've been looking for, it's ready to come home.