Trend: the return of the vintage ashtray

The ashtray is a very old smoking accessory. Once associated with the social standing of its owner, it became far more common with the arrival of the cigarette. Since then, sold at very low prices and made from cheap materials, the ashtray has been within everyone’s reach. Vintage ashtrays, however, are coming back to the fore. Here is a closer look at the object.

The vintage ashtray, far more than an ashtray: a collector’s item

Many enthusiasts will tell you that ashtrays are objects of real beauty. Vintage models are highly prized by collectors, and by smokers as well. Something of a bygone and sometimes mysterious era comes through in them. Their often elaborate and one-off design makes them sought-after pieces. Now decorative objects in their own right, old ashtrays bring a touch of the past into modern interiors. Contemporary design ashtrays often draw on these older models to create pieces of their own.

Beyond their practical side, ashtrays have indeed become decorative objects. Vintage is a trend that keeps returning in fashion, interior design and cars, and smoking accessories are no exception. Bronze or carved wood ashtrays carry a distinct hint of the 1920s.

What types of vintage ashtray are there?

The full list of ashtrays would be a very long one, so we will keep to the best-known models. The freestanding ashtray in metal and glass, for one, is a reminder of the 1960s. It also comes in various other materials, which make it either discreet or decidedly showy. This model is valued for being both practical and good to look at. Old ball-shaped ashtrays are sought after too, for their imposing appearance, as are stackable ashtrays, which combine practicality with saving space.

Some copper or metal models also appeal to those who know the field, because their irregularities are often the mark of considerable age and of hand production. And it would be hard to end this article without mentioning the well-known advertising ashtrays which, although more recent, have also become genuine collectors’ items, depending on the brand as well as the model and the year they were issued.