Rare 1 of 2 African plate/shield/tray.. please help me identify

[robc0llector]

My father in law showed me this piece his family got at the beginning of the century.. It's apparently from around 1900, imported from Africa and only 2 were made.

He told me there was an article in the paper back when he was a child that showed this exact piece and said only 2 were made.. the price at the time was valued at $5000 ...  anybody have any idea what this is or can point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[gg27]

It's most likely a table.  Set the tray on top of the base.  Rare?  Well, I see similar pieces quite often, tourist ware.  If it was made by someone famous, maybe, but you would need the provenance, a paper trail of that information, not just something that your father remembers from childhood.  Good luck, hopefully someone else will chime in here with some more information.  GG

[Ipcress]

Anything marked on the back ?

Otherwise these are quite common, though usually made more recently for the tourist market, as GG says

[mart]

As slow as these pics are it will take me till next month to see it !!

[greenacres]

Yes, My mother live in Africa during the 50's. My father was stationed there. My sister has the tray, but I think ours is brass or copper. I can't remember.

[bigwull]

As slow as these pics are it will take me till next month to see it !!

any better Mart....

[bigwull]

This Tray/cum table...is most likely of North African origin...Morocco... being the most likely ..or maybe,Berber....whilst there are antique ones..out there,..they are as GG,says more of a tourist item....not that i,m saying yours is,....but from where i,m sitting....for this to have any value near to $5000....the tray would need to be made of silver...take a look at my link...you will see similar ones to this.one of yours......

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=moroccan+brass+tray/table&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=2aLSUdSiD4LfOMGZgJAI&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=639
also found this on ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OAK-Folding-ENGLISH-BRASS-TRAY-Coffee-Table-Oriental-Moroccan-Hollywood-Regency-/260971741283

[mart]

Yep !!  Many of these from India !!  If you think its a unique piece,, try a major auction house for a value !!

[robc0llector]

Thank you for all your help!  this definitely points me in the right direction ....