Featured Small, Heavy, Sterling and Glass Container?

Thank you. Since I collect for myself, I try to find interesting stuff. I only started selling when I had too much interesting stuff.

 

With due respect, it was originally sold as a cigarette urn, as were the F.M. Whiting pieces, the size is typical for a pedestal base piece - I have gathered dozens of period ads and catalog references over the years, mostly silver, but other materials as well, dating primarily from the mid '40s to mid '60s. As already said, they are a bit too deep and wide for toothpicks (or matches), but could certainly be used for anything desired - packed away now, but I used one for Q-Tips for a long time, a friend has a lot of them and often uses them as individual vases at her dinner table.

Ashtrays or ash receivers, both large and individual were produced without grooves on the rim fairly often, those you're showing were sometimes marketed as ashtray/coasters, and sometimes just one or the other (as in the first ad I posted) - many of the sterling 'butter pats' for sale now were originally sold as individual ashtrays, but really, better purposed for butter...


Bit better image of similar from 1952 (note 'Ashtray-Coaster'):




This 1947 ad shows one like I used for Q-Tips (note height 3-1/8"):



~Cheryl

 

1949, sterling with ashtray (height 2-3/4"):




Fostoria Coin Glass cigarette urn (height 3-3/8"):






~Cheryl

 

none of my folks silver and glass ashtrays had divots in them...

 

The "coasters" are a thrift shop watch-out-for item. Lots were produced with base-metal trim but some were produced with sterling and they often get overlooked on the shelf.

Debora

 

My thought is that indents came later. Pure tobacco does not continue to burn. It was only when cigarette companies added chemicals like titanium dioxide that cigarettes continue to burn and therefore a place in an ashtray to rest this burning item was created. This is what I heard at least.

 

Now you know.

 

I saw them and had no clue.

 

Very interesting. I like dual purpose things. I had to look up silent butler. Looks like a bed warmer only smaller.

 

funny...now they add additives...to stop them from burning down to the filter..

 

Love it. You always bring the receipts!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great catalog cuts. It looks like a lot of companies produced them. So I'm not surprised that mine is not marked. I know the F. M. Whiting name came up with my amended search, (once I had realized it wasn't a candlestick holder.) This truly is the bottom line to this discussion, since you have the original item and the ashtrays/coasters in one ad. You are truly a fabulous source of information. Thank you.

 

I can't agree with you more. My little cigarette urn was $3, because they missed the sterling mark. I will keep my eye out in the future.

 

Where I live they price the metal rim ones like they're sterling, and you don't find the sterling any more. I've even found pewter.

 

Hmmm. I'll have to watch for that. Thank you.

 

I have several ashtrays from the 1920s and 30s that have indents. I'll post a photo of one.

 

A ca 1920 ashtray from my Gouda "plateel" tobacco set, Dutch Art Nouveau-Deco:

 

Isn't that a gorgeous thing. Makes my day a little better.

 

It belonged to my grandparents. Unfortunately every item in the set is broken or chipped, but I hang on to it because I love the designs and the glossy glaze. The motifs and the dotting are inspired by Indonesian batiks.

 

Chips and cracks don't deter me from love either. I just turn the bad bits to the back.

 

I can't do that with the tobacco jar, the knob of the lid was broken off and glued back on, with chips missing all around.
I could try to do a better repair, but it isn't a priority (too much jewellery that needs attention). I use the jar sans lid as a cache pot for a plant now.
The ashtray is home to jewellery I wear a lot, so it is always at hand.
The cigarette urn has pencils in it.