Preliminary identification

Mid-Century Carved Multi-Colored Onyx Vide-Poche Tray

Photo reference

3 uploaded photos

Overview

A beautifully polished, rectangular vide-poche or vanity tray carved from a single block of banded multi-colored onyx. The stone displays a spectacular natural landscape of swirling green, cream, rust-red, and golden-brown mineral bands, creating a miniature abstract painting formed by the Earth over millions of years.

Story

Centuries of mineral-rich water dripping through subterranean caves created this stone's dramatic bands. In the mid-20th century, artisans carved it into a sleek vanity tray, turning raw geological history into a chic everyday object.

Maker / Origin

While unsigned, this tray is characteristic of the highly skilled lapidary workshops of Puebla, Mexico, or Tuscany, Italy, which flourished during the mid-20th century. These regions became global hubs for carving local travertine and onyx, supplying high-end design boutiques worldwide with organic, modernist home accessories.

Condition & Value

The tray appears to be in very good vintage condition with no major chips, cracks, or deep scratches visible on the polished surface. Natural hairline fissures are inherent to the stone's geological formation and do not represent damage. Excellent preservation of the polished finish helps maintain its value.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

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.

Market Analysis

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.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.