Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
An exceptionally rare pre-Prohibition tin-lithograph advertising tray featuring a striking, detailed illustration of wild horses. Produced for the Buffalo Brewing Company of Sacramento, California, this tray showcases their 'Bohemian New Brew' and features a highly stylized, ornate border typical of turn-of-the-century commercial art.
Story
In 1890, Sacramento's Buffalo Brewing Company opened as the largest and most modern brewery west of the Mississippi. This tray captured the wild, untamed spirit of the West to sell a crisp, European-style Bohemian lager. It survived the devastating sweep of Prohibition, which forced the brewery to pivot to soda and ice.
Maker / Origin
The Buffalo Brewing Company was founded by legendary Sacramento figures, including Herman Grau and Adolph Heilbron, to challenge the San Francisco beer monopolies. Known for its state-of-the-art refrigeration and massive brick facility, it became a regional powerhouse.
Condition & Value
The tray appears to have some surface wear, minor paint loss, and oxidation consistent with age, particularly along the rim. The central graphic remains largely legible, though there is overall fading.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
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.