At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal melamine ashtray for your home. Each melamine ashtray for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using
metal,
aluminum and
plastic. Find 6 options for an antique or vintage melamine ashtray now, or shop our selection of 9 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a melamine ashtray — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A melamine ashtray, designed in the
modern or
mid-century modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. You’ll likely find more than one melamine ashtray that is appealing in its simplicity, but
Danese Milano,
Bruno Munari and
Helit Presswerk produced versions that are worth a look.
Prices for a melamine ashtray can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $75 and can go as high as $1,500, while the average can fetch as much as $255.
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.