The history of the ashtray: all you need to know about this accessory

The ashtray may be a very common article today, but not so many years ago it was regarded as a luxury item. Here is a short trip into the past to trace the history of the ashtray.

The ashtray: from luxury item to fashionable art piece

The ashtray came into being as the pipe and the cigar spread across Europe. From the 17th century onwards, ashtrays were found in the finest houses, since they were genuine luxury objects. Made by hand by craftsmen, they were one-off pieces, often set with precious stones or worked in fine materials. Hence the handsome pipe ashtrays and cigar ashtrays of the period.

Later, around 1920 and 1930, the ashtray began to appear in newer materials such as glass, silver and porcelain. They were made to order, so as to match the wishes of a well-to-do clientele. From a luxury item, the ashtray quickly became a decorative one.

How the ashtray became an everyday object

From the 20th century onwards, the cigarette spread across the world and the use of the ashtray spread with it. As cigarettes were smoked by far more people and were less bulky than a pipe or a cigar, ashtray production was refocused on these small tubes of tobacco. Ashtrays became smaller and mass production began at that point. The ashtray lost its former standing and even turned into an advertising object in its own right.

Over time, ashtrays followed the course of fashion, with materials and colours in step with the trends of the day. In the 1970s, curved shapes and psychedelic colours came to the fore. From the 1990s, growing environmental awareness led to a fall in demand and therefore in ashtray production. New models were tried out, for indoor as well as outdoor use.

Today, ashtrays are collectors’ items sought after by specialists. The older they are, the more they are worth. Some makers, meanwhile, continue to produce ashtrays of considerable value for wealthy collectors.