This large Belgian advertising tray made of lithographed tinplate is a particularly interesting piece at the crossroads of chocolate advertising and historical commemoration. It commemorates the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence (1830-1905) through a scene entitled “Retreat of the Dutch Hussars through the Flanders Gate”, an episode from the revolutionary days of September 1830. The decor bears the commercial signature of Chocolat Michiels, an important Brussels manufacturer of the time.
✦ Provenance: Belgium (Brussels) ✦ Estimated period: 1905 (75th anniversary of Belgian Independence) ✦ Dimensions: approx. 51 x 23 cm ✦ Material: Lithographed tinplate ✦ Condition: wear, scratches, slight loss of decor, peripheral oxidation. Central image still clearly legible
This piece combines Belgian history, old advertising, and popular Belle Époque illustration, a theme particularly sought after by collectors of antique chocolate items and Belgian advertisements.
