USS Calvert APA 32 ...ashtray?

I can't find any other USS Calvert china pieces online. Would this have been some kind of souvenir or from the actual ship? Also, would you call this an ashtray or something else? Approx 6" across, couple inches high. Thanks!

 

Looks like for cigars in a conference room.

 

Cigars would make sense. Thank you!

Wonder if this was from the actual ship? Purchased it for possible resale.

Additional thoughts welcome!

 

Hard to say. The ship was used mainly to transport troops and never was significant in any battle so wonder why anyone would want to make reproduction Memorabilia from it unless maybe a reunion gathering of some sorts!
Poor ship - USS Calvert was sold for scrap on February 14, 1977.

 

The shape seems like it might tip or roll in a rough sea. You'd think if it were on a ship it would be designed more like a ships decanter with a broad base.
I've never heard of "Orchid China", is it a maker like Syracuse China that made restaurant ware? If so maybe used in a port of call mess or club.
The ship actually had 10 Battle Stars and a Navy Unit Commendation.

 

So you actually think the Government was smarter back then as compared to today? Remember, they built the ship and supplied it in dry dock.

 

Yes - that is written in the navy books - compare this troop transport to a USS battleship or aircraft carrier. Which one actually won the war for us? And like I stated - maybe a reunion commemorative?

 

I would say the troop transport vessels. I think their role in supplying troops would be somewhat akin to "tugs" supplying "muscle(s)" for ships.

But that's just me usually acknowledging the fruits of labor supplied by "the little man."

 

So you think it could have been on the ship because the government wasn't very smart back then and they might have put a poorly designed cigar tray in the mess?
Ive never thought governments to be very smart, back then or today. Maybe you're right.

 

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated!

Who knows, could have been for land or sea, but if sea, the thought of being near someone smoking a cigar in a ship in rough waters is making me a bit seasick...

I just found a link to an old Ebay auction for a U.S.S. Calvert APA 32 ashtray. Different look than this, but has some similarities. The linked one was made by"Arita china", Japan. The link is from a U.S.S. Calvert online group, they just took a screen shot of the auction:

http://www.usscalvert.com/2016/03/27/uss-calvert-ashtray-available-for-sale-on-ebay/

You can still pull the auction up, but the photos are gone. It sold with one bid at $27.50 --sounds from the group that took the screen shot, it went to a U.S.S. Calvert Marine museum. The Ebay seller had no information about the piece.

Maybe I'll just list mine making no claims one way or the other and see what happens. Thanks!

 

Any time I've seen this shape of ashtray, it has been Japanese.

 

It may have been the insert for a leather covered "holder"..............possibly matching a desk set. I have/had one around somewhere from a military relative's office in the Pentagon (circa 1950s).

 

A lot of this stuff is made and sold at reunions. Trust me - I'm married to a 31 year Navy vet and we live in the house of reunion stuff! Mugs, glasses, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, miscellaneous knick-knacks. I'll bet that's what this is.