Cast from a remarkable volume of emerald-green glass, this imposing ashtray belongs to an era when smoking occupied the center of American social life and even the humblest accessories possessed a degree of permanence. Nearly two inches thick, its faceted walls gather and refract light through dense planes of glass, shifting from deep bottle green to brilliant chartreuse with every change in angle. The effect owes as much to sculpture as utility, the ashtray's generous mass giving the simple square form an unexpected architectural presence.
Pressed glass reached new heights of popularity during the postwar decades, when advances in industrial production made boldly colored domestic wares available on an unprecedented scale. Hotels, cocktail lounges, executive offices, and living rooms alike filled with objects designed to withstand constant use while contributing to an atmosphere of polished modernity. Heavy enough to stay precisely where it was placed, this ashtray calls to mind that vanished landscape of low tables, cut crystal, cigarette smoke, and long conversations that stretched well into the evening.
Green pressed glass ashtray, c. 1960s
150 USD
Cast from a remarkable volume of emerald-green glass, this imposing ashtray belongs to an era when smoking occupied the center of American social life and even the humblest accessories possessed a degree of permanence. Nearly two inches thick, its faceted walls gather and refract light through dense planes of glass, shifting from deep bottle green to brilliant chartreuse with every change in angle. The effect owes as much to sculpture as utility, the ashtray's generous mass giving the simple square form an unexpected architectural presence.
Pressed glass reached new heights of popularity during the postwar decades, when advances in industrial production made boldly colored domestic wares available on an unprecedented scale. Hotels, cocktail lounges, executive offices, and living rooms alike filled with objects designed to withstand constant use while contributing to an atmosphere of polished modernity. Heavy enough to stay precisely where it was placed, this ashtray calls to mind that vanished landscape of low tables, cut crystal, cigarette smoke, and long conversations that stretched well into the evening.
Square pressed-glass ashtray in emerald green. Four cigarette rests with thick faceted walls. American, circa 1960s. Measures 6 × 6 × 1¾ inches.
Each Reserve collectible is thoughtfully custom-packaged to Jacques Marie Mage standards, with tailored care to each artifact. Each collectible is accompanied by a JMM Certificate of Authenticity and ID card.
