An assortment of vintage glass ash trays is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of
metal,
ceramic and
glass, all vintage glass ash trays available were constructed with great care. Vintage glass ash trays have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Vintage glass ash trays bearing
Mid-Century Modern or
Art Deco hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made vintage glass ash trays over the years, but those made by
Hermès,
Danese Milano and
Marcello Fantoni are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
Vintage glass ash trays can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $651, while the lowest priced sells for $130 and the highest can go for as much as $9,450.
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.