Ashtrays Repurposed

If you're looking to collect California Pottery on the cheap, I'd suggest you check out ashtrays and cigarette boxes. Back in the 50s smoking was very popular, especially with cool Californians. And all the companies and designers produced ashtrays and/or smoking sets that included cigarette boxes, table lighters, humidors, etc. The lighters and humidors can get pricey because there are lively collector markets for such. But cigarette boxes and ashtrays, especially ashtrays, tend to get ignored. That's too bad, as many of them can be quite attractive pieces.

Especially nice are works by Sascha Brastoff and Marc Bellaire, and ashtrays from both go unsold on eBay all the time. Many of them would make great incense burners or candy bowls. Some of the ashtrays out there are so dead-on 60s-Mod that they fit perfectly with such decor.
The ashtray pictured here is by California Originals, probably mid-sixties. Wonderful wood-grain finish and classic teardrop-mod shape. Its up at shopgoodwill.com right now for just a dollar. Probably won't go much higher. Ends 11/4.