Modernist Cast Iron Tray with Enamel Painted Decoration, Presumed Japanese drawing of man in hat Unfortunately

Unfortunately

and the character of the surface suggests to me that it is Revolutionary War era

who I understand from the seller died just recently at the age of 85

Versus Taken with Little Variation from the Tombstone of Margaret Scott

marvelously graphic

Modernist Cast Iron Tray with Enamel Painted Decoration, Presumed Japanese drawing of man in hat UnfortunatelyI found this one at my favorite shop in New Hampshire this week, owned by a family of artists and always a treasure trove of interesting things. My guess is that it is Japanese, thought there is no mark cast of iron with enamel painted decoration in black and yellow and red. Perhaps it was made to be an ashtray, with the yellow enameled triangle perhaps pointing to where one would lay a cigarette, and maybe the two yellow circles suggesting a lighter