Lot #60: Vintage Mid-Century Chinese Lithograph Tin Serving Tray – "Sanxing" Three Star Gods

Vintage Mid-Century Chinese Lithograph Tin Serving Tray – "Sanxing" Three Star Gods Vintage Chinese Lithograph Tin Serving Tray 17.5"x13" Large Fu Lu Shou Sanxing Deities Mid-Century Item Description Up for auction is a stunning, beautifully preserved vintage Mid-Century Chinese lithographed tin serving tray featuring the iconic Sanxing (Three Star Gods) of folk tradition. This large-format premium tray showcases vibrant colors, intricate cultural motifs, and a bright white decorative ground framed by a textured faux-grain reddish-coral border. Artistic Imagery & Symbolism: • The Deities (Fu Lu Shou): Depicts Fu Xing (God of Fortune/Blessings in green holding a child), Lu Xing (God of Prosperity/Wealth in center official robes), and Shou Xing (God of Longevity holding the peach of immortality). • Flying Bats: Five auspicious red bats hover above the deities—a classic visual pun (rebus) where the word for bat (fú) phonetically mirrors the word for good fortune. • Auspicious Red Seal: Features a stylized, traditional red seal script stamp in the bottom left corner reading 「萬事如意」 (Wàn Shì Rú Yì), which translates to "May all your wishes come true" or "May everything go smoothly." Specifications: • Material: Lithographed Tin / Metalware • Dimensions: Large premium format – Approx. 17.5" x 13" (Rectangular) • Era: Circa 1970s–1980s Mid-Century Export Ware • Origin: High-quality vintage export (Common to premium artisan manufacturers in Hong Kong/Taiwan) • Reverse Finish: Factory uniform brushed gold/bronze-tone lacquer backing coat. Condition Report: • Front View: Excellent vintage condition. The lithograph print remains exceptionally bright and highly saturated. Gloss finish is largely intact with only minor, expected light surface scuffs consistent with age. • Reverse View: Superb, clean condition. The gold-toned backing coat is remarkably preserved with minimal oxidation, no heavy surface scaling, and virtually none of the dark rust spotting typically found on metal trays of this era. Edges show very light vintage patina Nearest intersection Younge Street and Stelees Avenue Dimensions: Approx. 17.5" x 13" Pickup category timeslot {A}