Vintage Route 66 Maisel's Indian Trading Post Advertising Thunderbird Ashtray

Description

Vintage Route 66 Maisel's Indian Trading Post Advertising Thunderbird Ashtray, Copper.   This Southwestern advertising souvenir ashtray is in vintage condition with discoloration.  I like the way it looks, it has character, so I did not try to clean it. I'll leave that up to the buyer. The copper ashtray is shaped like a Native American thunderbird with a shallow bowl that says: Maisel's Indian Trading Post, Albuquerque, NM.  It measures 3 1/2" x 2 7/8".
Maisel's Indian Trading Post, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Bernalillo County in 1993. Maisel's was established by Maurice & Cyma Maisel in 1939 to cater to the new Route 66 tourist trade with high quality Native American jewelry & art. Their Pueblo Deco building was designed by architect John Gaw Meem.  The building features murals designed by Olive Rush. Various murals depicting Native American life were painted by the whos who of native artists, including Harrison Begay, Narcisco Abeyta,  Awa Tsireh, Pablita Velarde, Ben Quintana and a young Popovi Da, Maria Martinez's son.  The trading post employed over 300 Native American craftsman in its heyday.  It is now permanently closed, but the building is a must-see for any Albuquerque tourist.   This is a great advertising ashtray for any Native American, Route 66 or New Mexico collector.