Pair of Lucite and Brass Trays with Exotic Flamingo Décor, France, circa 1970

This handsome pair of serving trays combines clear Lucite sheets with polished brass frames to striking decorative effect. The transparent ground is adorned with a richly composed exotic scene — long-legged flamingos stand amid dense tropical vegetation, their silhouettes rendered in liquid gold against the crystalline surface. The brass trim runs along the full perimeter of each tray, forming both a structural border and a gleaming counterpoint to the warm gold decoration. The trays are rectangular and nestable, one somewhat larger than the other.

The flamingo motif enjoyed considerable currency in French decorative arts of the 1960s and 1970s, when a taste for the exotic — influenced by travel, Hollywood glamour, and the broader mid-century fascination with faraway places — pervaded interior design. Plexiglass, or Lucite, was embraced by designers of the period as a glamorous modern material: its clarity and lightness offered a fresh alternative to traditional silver or ceramic serving ware, while its compatibility with bold applied decoration made it ideal for pieces of this type. The combination of transparent acrylic with brass hardware is a hallmark of a confident and sophisticated French aesthetic of the era.

These trays would have graced the dining rooms and salons of the French bourgeoisie, serving cocktails, amuse-bouches, or simply as decorative centrepieces. Their generous dimensions allow them to hold bottles, glasses, or a full array of aperitif accompaniments. The exotic motif would have lent an air of festivity and escapism to any gathering — qualities highly prized in the post-war decades of renewed prosperity and refined entertaining.

In good vintage condition. The Lucite presents a few light surface scratches consistent with normal use and decades of storage, inherent to the material and without incidence on the overall visual impact. The brass trim retains its warm lustre. A decorative and functional pair that would sit equally well on a contemporary bar cart or in a period-furnished interior.