Papa David's ashtray

I don't know the circumstances that caused this postwar Limoges china ashtray to come into my grandfather's possession, but it was among the stuff in his closet that needed to be dealt with when he passed away more than a decade or so ago. My grandmother invited me to keep it, which I gratefully did.

As I say, I don't know the real story, but the picture in my mind is of my grandparents on holiday in Princess Grace-era Monaco. They are living large, staying, perhaps, at the Hotel de Paris. They do some sightseeing, of course, and at some point they pop into a gift shop to pick up a few knickknacks, including this Limoges ashtray, with its gilt cigarette rests and central image of the prince and princess's famous palace.

My grandfather smoked, but this little ashtray does not show a lot (if any) use. I keep guitar picks in it today.