Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a vintage glazed ceramic promotional vide-poche or pin tray made for the Scullin Steel Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Produced by corporate advertising specialty distributor Denver M. Wright, Jr. Co., it features bold industrial typography, a gilt rim, and Scullin's distinctive interlocking 'S' logo in black and red.
Story
Founded in 1899, Scullin Steel poured the foundational metal for American railroads and World War II munitions. Pieces like this tray were executive gifts that sat on mahogany desks during America's mid-century manufacturing boom.
Maker / Origin
The Denver M. Wright, Jr. Co. was a prominent St. Louis-based advertising specialty and novelty jobber that sourced high-quality ceramic, glass, and metal wares for local corporations. The Scullin Steel Company was one of the largest steel casting operations in the Midwest, heavily involved in rail car trucks, castings, and wartime bomb casings.
Condition & Value
Displays fine, stable age crazing throughout the clear glaze on the front and back, along with light wear to the gilt rim. No large chips or restorations are evident in the photos. The crazing is typical of vintage promotional ceramics and slightly softens collector value.
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Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.