About Antique Ashtrays

As smoking is becoming less popular, ashtrays are becoming harder to find. Those that do exist are ugly, hidden and more a mark of shame than anything else. That was not always the case. Ashtrays were once as popular as light bulbs in many homes and were sometimes gorgeous or elaborate enough to be deemed incredible works of art. It may have been almost sinful, in fact, to quash out a butt on some of the fanciest trays.

Types

Antique ashtrays vary from the simple, leaded crystal basin to the elaborately witty and whimsical porcelain clown heads and everything in between. Some ashtrays included a cover and were small enough to be carried around easily in the pocket whereas others were so large they needed their own wrought iron stands. Some of the most fun antique ashtrays include those created to resemble animals or the infamous bubble tire ashtray which features a large, rubber tire as the border around a glass tray.
The more reserved folks may prefer the colored class ashtrays inlaid with flowers, gold or even rife with landscape scenes.
Other ashtrays fit snugly into a base that may include a carving of an elephant or were part of elaborate smoking sets that once graced many coffee and end tables all over the globe. Ashtrays were made of nearly every material, from metal to delicate glass, provided the material was treated not to burn.

Features

As people's attitudes towards smoking changed, so did the ashtray. The ashtray used to be an art piece in many homes, unlike the hidden, plastic cheap garbage disposals you see today. Ashtrays of the 1920s, when smoking was still fun, include elaborate statuettes fashioned out of pewter. An ashtray from the 1940s might be fashioned out of treated wood and offer a handy flip top. Some 1950s ashtrays mimic the art deco movement coming in, while the ashtrays of the 1960s illustrated the groovy vibe associated with smoking, whether it be cigarettes or an alternative.

Geography

The souvenir ashtray, which is also losing its place in daily life, used to be a popular staple for many tourists. Glass ashtrays decorated with an underside sticker or painted with the name of cities, resorts and destinations remain a huge part of memorabilia. Hotels, too, used to feature an ashtray in every room, often stamped with the name of the establishment. For the sticky-fingered traveler, they were a very easy way to bring back gifts for friends.
Some ashtrays from faraway places were much more elaborate. Many ceramic ashtrays featuring figurines associated with a particular place were sold in gift shops across the world. These could include steer skull ashtrays from New Mexico, alligator ashtrays from Florida and frog ashtrays from places like Puerto Rico, where the frog is revered.

Potential

As ashtrays become more of rarity, their value increases. Smoking collectibles, including the ashtray, have become a hot commodity for collectors, according to the website CigarAficianado.com. While no one is likely to get rich off a single ashtray, some of the rarer ones in excellent condition can fetch upwards of $100 or more. Some of the most expensive listed on the website RubyLane.com include an amethyst gold trim smoking set for $125, a pottery palomino colt ashtray for $236 and a pin up girl ashtray with porcelain head of Lana Turner for $295.

Expert Insight

One of the ashtray collector niches include celebrity ashtrays. These are not the ashtrays fashioned to resemble celebrities, like the Lana Turner pin up ashtray, but rather ashtrays once owned by celebrities. When Marlene Dietrich died, the contents of her Manhattan co-op included 23 ashtrays. Many were souvenir ashtrays taken from places of the caliber of Maxim's in Paris. The site said the lot was thought to be worth no more than $250 but ended up raking in $3,220.
Notable cigar smoker George Burns left behind several ashtrays, none in great condition, but they, too, brought in hefty sums. Two of his cigar ashtrays, valued at no more than $450, took in $1,380, and four chipped and cracked glass ashtrays sold for more than $100 more than their estimated $250.

Resources

• Antique ashtray selection at Ruby Lane