1960s Vintage Couroc of Monterey Black Tray Featuring the Wells Fargo Stagecoach

Description

1960s Vintage Couroc of Monterey Black Resin Bakelite Like Tray Featuring the Wells Fargo Stagecoach.
Dimensions: Large 18” x 12.5”. … more 1960s Vintage Couroc of Monterey Black Resin Bakelite Like Tray Featuring the Wells Fargo Stagecoach.
Dimensions: Large 18” x 12.5”.
A unique and charming black serving tray from the Mid 20th century, featuring an intricate Wells Fargo Stage Coach design, crafted by Couroc of Monterey.
The Couroc serving tray is composed of a black lacquer phenolic resin (water, burn, stain, and detergent resistant plastic) with inlaid wood and brass accents. Excellent, vintage condition with a couple of insignificant scuffs, as shown.
Branded Couroc in verso with original label.
This vintage piece remains in excellent condition, free from any chips or cracks, showing only minor scratches.
The timeless appeal of this mid-century Couroc tray lies in its fusion of diverse materials, seamlessly integrated into the luxurious black satin surface.
Crafted by skilled artisans in Monterey, California, Couroc's legacy spans over four decades, during which they mastered the art of hand inlaying natural elements and binding them with phenolic resin.
As a result of this distinctive process, each Couroc creation possesses individuality, ensuring that every piece is a unique, handmade masterpiece.
Couroc of Monterey was a company that specialized in creating distinctive and artistic home decor items, particularly trays and barware. Founded in 1948 by Guthrie Courvoisier and Helene Curtis, the company gained popularity for its unique process of handcrafting items using a combination of natural materials and phenolic resin.
One of Couroc's defining features was their method of inlaying materials like shells, coins, metals, wood, and other decorative elements into their products. This process involved embedding these materials into a black resin base, creating intricate and visually appealing designs. The result was a stunning fusion of artistry and functionality that captured the essence of mid-century design.
Couroc's products were known for their durability and versatility, making them popular for both decorative and practical purposes. Their items included trays, coasters, plates, and other barware accessories, often featuring intricate motifs and designs that ranged from classic to whimsical.
Each Couroc piece was truly one-of-a-kind due to the inherent variations in the natural materials used and the handcrafting process. This uniqueness contributed to their appeal among collectors and enthusiasts of vintage and mid-century decor.
The company operated for more than four decades, producing these distinctive pieces with great care and craftsmanship. Couroc items are now considered collectibles and can be found in vintage stores, online marketplaces, and auctions. Their legacy lives on as a testament to the creative marriage of art and functionality that defined mid-century design sensibilities.
A note on the maker: Couroc was founded in 1948 by San Francisco art gallery owner Guthrie Sayle Courvoisier along with his wife, designer Moira Wallace. The inspiration for the company stemmed from the Courvoisiers' art background as well as Guthrie's expertise working with plastics which he gained during World War II. Courvoisier found phenolic resin - a heat-cured plastic - to be a durable material that could stand up to regular use and retain its appearance over time. It also proved to be an effective medium for inlay, which went on to become Couroc's signature decorative technique. Materials used often included metal and wood as well as crushed coral, all of which were arranged by artisans in a variety of patterns. The company is well known for its trays, but also produced a wide array of other pieces including other types of barware, boxes and ashtrays. less