Two Vintage Advertising Ashtrays…..

The first is a ceramic ashtray promoting The Roger Smith Hotels. It is 9.5Cm square, and 3Cm tall (about 4 by 1.25 inches). It is heavy for its size…364Gm (12.8 ounces), making a very stable and durable piece.

This first item was produced by The M.B. Co. of Trenton, NJ and is quite old. New Jersey formerly had an extensive role in pottery and ceramics, but this not the case anymore.

I really like the style of this item. From the graphics and style, could it that this is Art-Deco? Please inform if anyone knows the answer….thanks!

The second is a glass ashtray promoting a business in Mt. Carmel, PA. This town is in PA's Anthracite Coal Region.

It measures 10.5Cm square, and 2.5Cm tall (4 by 1 inches).

The style of this ashtray is very common, with many different types of advertising seen on its faces. The style itself could date from the 1940s, but i think that this one with it's phone info and abbreviation for Pennsylvania, most likely dates it from the early-mid 60s.

Though smoking is becoming passé, such colorful reminders of old advertising still retain their attractiveness. They could still be used as cigar/cigarette rests, and other uses are for decoration, of course, and as colorful holders for various things…such as candy, jewelry, coins, etc...