Brass Fly Ashtray
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Metal
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Metal
People Also Browsed
20th Century English Edwardian Tobacco Accessories
Satinwood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Ashtrays
Chrome
20th Century Congolese Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Malachite
Mid-20th Century Italian Ashtrays
Crystal
Mid-20th Century Belgian Ashtrays
Crystal
20th Century Spanish Hollywood Regency Side Tables
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Art Glass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Blown Glass
20th Century French Tobacco Accessories
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Bronze
Early 20th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Tobacco Accessories
Clay
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Porcelain
Vintage 1960s Italian Art Deco Ashtrays
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Ashtrays
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Edwardian Tobacco Accessories
Oak
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Brass
2010s Turkish Other Ashtrays
Brass
Vintage 1960s German Ashtrays
Brass
Vintage 1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tobacco Accessories
Metal, Brass
Finding the Right ashtrays for You
Once a near-universal tabletop accessory, many antique, new and vintage ashtrays have taken on an entirely new purpose in today’s homes.
Whereas these formerly ubiquitous objects were associated with smoking, drinking, gambling and other vices, a well-designed and interesting ashtray is a candy dish, coaster or cocktail garnish receptacle in today’s interiors. But don’t discount its initial function. Amid your carefully curated coastal chic California decor, for example, a stone ashtray can help you manage the ashes that accumulate while you’re burning your morning incense. Old glass ashtrays, which are quite popular and easily found in free-form, organic shapes, can be a purely decorative final touch when styling a coffee table, whether you’ve filled it with wrapped lemon-drop candies or not.
In the postwar years, the democratization of luxury led to an explosion in the number of well-designed ashtrays, and there are many mid-century modern ashtrays to choose from on 1stDibs. (It’s no coincidence that sculptor Isamu Noguchi devised his “Dymaxion” version, which he hoped would make him rich, in 1945. Alas, it turned out to be too difficult to mass-produce.) The design collection of the Museum of Modern Art includes ashtrays by Carlo Scarpa (Murano glass, 1950–59); Achille Castiglioni (stainless steel with spring-like inserts, 1970); Masayuki Kurokawa (rubber and steel, 1973) and more. Smoking declined in popularity in the 1970s and ’80s, after the surgeon general’s warning began appearing on cigarette packs, but designers were still crafting ashtrays through the end of the century (especially outside the United States).
On 1stDibs, browse a collection of antique, new and vintage ashtrays that includes everything from modern and minimalist cigar ashtrays to outwardly ornate Art Deco ashtrays that evoke the opulence and elegance of the 1920s.
Read More
How Noguchi Elevated Ashtrays to Objets d’Art
Smoking might have fallen out of fashion, but these ashtrays have enduring design appeal.
Tapio Wirkkala Bucked the Trends of Mid-Century Nordic Design
The Finnish talent created nature-inspired pieces, from furniture to jewelry, with phenomenal staying power.