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Vintage C.S. Hammond & Co. “Flags Around the World” Metal Wastebasket – Circa 1958–1959
Wonderful vintage metal wastebasket featuring a colorful world map surrounded by the flags of nations from the late 1950s. Made/printed in the USA and marked “© C.S. Hammond & Co. N.Y. Printed in U.S.A.”
This is an especially interesting Cold War-era piece because many of the countries, country names, and flags pictured have since changed or disappeared altogether. Examples visible on the wastebasket include the United Arab Republic, U.S.S.R., West Germany, Ceylon, Nationalist China, Yugoslavia, South Vietnam, and Burma, making it a great snapshot of the political world of the late 1950s.
The combination of flags helps date the piece to approximately 1958–1959. The United Arab Republic was formed in 1958, while the basket appears to show the 48-star United States flag, which was superseded by the 49-star flag in 1959.
Black background with bright multicolor flags, twin-hemisphere world map, and gold-tone interior, rim, and base. Great Mid-Century Modern office, den, library, classroom, geography, map, flag, or Cold War collectible.
