I have always been a firm believer in collecting items that are disappearing.  This is often predictable simply by paying attention to changes in social norms and habits.  One such category that fits this description is ashtrays.

Historically, ashtrays were found everywhere.  Every restaurant, bar, hotel, a lot of businesses, and many homes had ashtrays.  Ashtrays were commonly used as advertisers and were also popular as pieces of art.

In 1940, when asked if they had smoked a cigarette in the past week, 40% of the population said ‘yes’.  By 1954 that number reached a high of 45%.  It was a time when smoking was popular, cigarette ads were everywhere, and smoking was allowed everywhere, even on airplanes. It was glamorized on TV and in movies.  It was the thing to do in social circles.

All of that has changed.  Much of that can be credited to the Surgeon General warnings, which led to banned advertising, and increasingly negative perceptions about the practice.  Businesses and offices started banning smoking.  Eventually entire cities banned smoking in public places.  All of this had a dramatic effect, so much so that cigarette smoking reached an all time low of 13.7% of the population in 2018.

As a result, ashtrays are disappearing.  That which once was commonplace, is now becoming collectable.  Having collected them for years I have decided it is time to let them go.  Over the next several months I will be listing my collection of 100’s of ashtrays.  You will find advertisers, souvenirs, art glass, art pottery, cast iron, brass, aluminum, restaurant ware, figures, floor stands, and many more.  See my store for a complete list of what is currently listed.