We have holiday ornaments and items to create a beautiful centerpiece. You’ll find little things throughout the store to add just the right ambiance to your holiday fun.
Homemade Sweetness
Local Havre de Honey from our Green Team
Whether you’re baking, adding a glaze to your ham, or sweetening your tea, our local honey from Havre de Grace Green Team will add love to your efforts. This also makes a wonderful gift of ‘local’ to someone special on your list. We might mention that you’ll want to hurry, it’s selling fast!!!
Entertain with Style
Lenox serving pieces
From beautiful serving pieces to highlight the delicious foods you’ll be offering this season, to a variety of trays, cake plates, and more to add the perfect style to your table or buffet.
This is just a sampling of what you might find as you meander through the shop. The perfect decoration, serving dish, or holiday gift is waiting for you to discover. And yes, we’re here and we’re watchin’ for ya.
These beautiful hand-carved wood figures would most certainly please a collector. One or two might also be a perfect addition to your holiday decor.
Yesterday we encouraged you to look UP and DOWN when you browse our shop. Today we want to point out the variety of items you might find.
Nautical and more
Just a few ideas for a nautical decor or gift including wood figures, decoys, and a duck-decorated lamp.
Vintage Cameras
Vintage cameras and accessories have always been popular items at Bahoukas. We don’t keep them long in many situations. Whether you collect them to display or you’re a photographer who loves to actually work with them, you’ll want to stop in on a regular basis to check our latest finds.
Pottery to Porcelain
Beautiful pottery piecesmini water pitcher and bowl setsbeautifully patterned pitcher, bowl, and chamber pot
Whether you’re looking for an unusual pottery piece, mini porcelain pitchers with wash bowls, or a beautiful pink-rose water pitcher, bowl, and chamber pot, we may have just what you’re looking for. As a unique gift or to add to your home decor, it’s worth taking a peek at what we have.
So from Tea to Tools
We really do have something for everyone!
We look forward to pointing out the special items you might be looking for to complete your holiday gift-giving or to add a bit of spice to your decor. Stop in soon. We’ll be watchin’ for ya.
From Holiday Decor to artwork/prints, wonderful wall items like the huge, folding fan or 3′ round wall art are just a few of the unique items you’ll find throughout the shop. When we say you need to spend some time browsing, looking UP and DOWN, we aren’t joking.
Quick example, a customer asked if he could take pictures of the PEZ collection to send to a friend. I responded, “Of course, but don’t forget to look up!” He looked up and said, “Oh my… I didn’t even see all those!” He was looking up at a shelf of PEZ at least 12′ long and probably 8′ up!
This print sits on a chair…This huge print with teddy bear lamp is near the ceilingThe framed artworks and prints are closer to the floor
Unique Maple Drawer and Shelf
For a child or perfect for a crafter
This perfectly-sized, small maple chest of drawers with a shelf unit is often missed. Well-made and beautiful, it would make perfect storage for a young child, whether it be clothes or toys.
At 23″ high – 29″ wide – 13″ deep, the 6 drawers and the shelf section would also be perfect for a crafter. If you’re a DIY lover, you could even put casters on the bottom so that you could move it.
We encourage you to stop into Bahoukas Antiques and Beer MuZeum soon. And give yourself enough time to look UP and look DOWN. The ‘Collector of Collections’ truly does have something for nearly everyone! And you know, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!
What juxtaposition refers to is best illustrated by examples such as an old trunk placed at the foot of a contemporary bed or a vintage dresser used with new bedside tables. It basically offers what might be referred to as a “harmonious marriage of contradictions” or put another way, the fact of two things being seen or placed together with a contrasting effect. And when used properly, the results can be inspiring.
We just received this amazing planter, perfect for a Mother’s Day gift, and ready for Spring! Plant it to overflowing with your favorite flowers, perfect for accenting a deck, porch, sunroom, or entryway. It’s a simple item that presents beautifully in any decor. Create a conversation piece by giving it a special place in your home decor.
Decorating should always have a sprinkle of fun, whimsy, or just plain unique! This is just one item in our store of over 9,000 sq. ft. Stop in soon, after all, Mother’s Day is THIS Sunday, May 8, 2022! We have a wonderful collection of collections to add a bit of juxtaposition to your decor. Have fun! Be creative! And know that we’re here and we’re watchin’ for ya!
This unique collection of 3 different sets of teacups and saucers, with different symbols on the cup and saucer, would make a wonderful gift for mom this Mother’s Day. We’ve included a bit of information should Mom decide she’d like to try to read her own tea leaves. Hurry in, we only have this one group of 3 sets, which is the total series created for Red Rose Tea in the 1960s. (We do not have the booklet that described the reading of tea leaves that originally came with them.)
There were three white tea cups with gold designs in the series of fortune telling cups, numbered 1, 2, and 3 on the bottom of each cup and saucer. They were manufactured in England by Taylor, Smith, and Taylor of fine bone china. A small illustrated booklet about tea leaf reading accompanied them.
This beautiful and unique set of symbol cups and saucers consists of three cups and three saucers. They’re made of white bone china marked with 22k gold trim, each designated by a number on the bottom. A single cup and saucer are only part of the set, with the cups and the saucers both backstamped with their numbers
Tea Cup #1 – Key, Ship, Eagle, Boot, Grapes, Eggs.
The reading of tea leaves is what makes these beautiful sets so very special. In the link below the quote, you can learn about the meaning of the various symbols. Or you can visit THIS LINK from Allure.com
Also known as reading coffee or reading tea leaves, tasseography is a divination practice dating back thousands of years. Over this time, many symbols and interpretations have been built up.
Each of the 3 sets are marked to match cup and saucer.
This beautiful and unique set will surely be chosen as a gift for someone’s very special Mom. If you’re interested, hurry in. Remember, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 8, 2022. And yes, we’ll be watchin’ for ya.
Vintage tins come in a variety of sizes from tiny pillboxes, coffee, and tobacco cans, to large chip cans and more! They are beautiful and practical. You’ll want to click on the link below the quote to see photos of a variety of ways to use vintage tins in your decor that include planters, storage, lampshade, magnet containers, and even a tiered organizer! The article mentioned below will most certainly get your creative juices flowing.
(Vintage tins) … come in many sizes and have many designs. They are perfect for a wide variety of crafty upcycling projects, too. We have here ideas that are sure to tickle your fancy. Most of these vintage tin craft projects will give you beautiful items for the home. They’re perfect for organizing and for giving your home that fun shabby chic look. Hope you enjoy these vintage tin DIYs!
… come in many shapes and sizes. The art can be truly outstanding while being totally practical – making great storage containers.
Vintage Tins in Many Shapes
round tin and log-cabin shaped vintage tins
Tins can be sewing or knitting baskets, filled with cookies or games and offered as a beautiful gift.
This carousel vintage tin is beautiful!
Need more examples and ideas. CLICK THIS LINK for other posts we’ve created on vintage tins!
Are You a Prepper?
Vintage tins can be a beautiful addition to your storage area. Your bulk foods would look great on a shelf in vintage tins. It’s an easy way to store items while showing off a beautiful collection. Talk about ‘minimalist’!!!
Not sure what you like? Stop by Bahoukas Antiques to browse the very collectible and useful vintage tins. We’re here. And we’re just waitin’ to point them out to you! And don’t forget – Mother’s Day 2022 is Sunday, May 8th. What would you like to tuck into a beautiful vintage tin for Mom?
This beautiful holiday celebrating ‘moms’ is only one week from Sunday! WOW! So we’re going to share a few blog posts with ideas for your mom, or grandmom!
These beautiful ‘lady head vases’ can be used for a plant or small fresh flowers. We have a wonderful collection.
Beautiful, exquisite Lady Head Vases
Many of the most desirable head vases feature fancy hats, realistic facial features, and even pearl necklaces with matching dangle earrings adorning them. Some even have a shapely hand with painted nails delicately framing one side of the face.
We have some Josef Originals birthday angel figurines. They are so beautiful. They may also add a touch of class to your mom’s shelf. (Or a little girl’s birthday gift).
Josef Originals birthday angel figurines and Lady Head vases
Who was Josef of Josef Originals
Muriel Joseph was originally a producer of Lucite jewelry under the name of Muriel of California until the outbreak of World War II. Unfortunately for Muriel Lucite was needed for the war effort, mainly for airplane windshields, which forced Joseph to search for a new product material. For a few years she continued to make jewelry, now with ceramic, before coming to the idea of designing and creating ceramic figurines. Muriel’s fiancé, Tom George, returned home to California at the end of the war unable to find work, so he focused on helping his wife’s business by making molds of Joseph’s models. The two married and in 1946 began producing ceramic figures under the name Josef Originals. The spelling of the name was meant to be “Joseph,” but the printer made a mistake on the first set of labels ordered. As it was too late to reprint the labels, this error gave birth to the name “Josef Originals”.
As always, we’re here – and we’re watchin’ for ya. We have a wonderful variety of collectibles for creating a beautiful Mother’s Day gift. Don’t forget, it’s only days away – May8, 2022!
Afternoon tea is usually associated with the great tv series we’ve enjoyed, such as Bridgerton and Downton Abbey
A fancy tea (photo courtesy of Unsplash)
… or fun!
But also, you can have fun just as Alice did at the Madhatter’s Tea Party.
(photo courtesy of Unsplash)
We Have Tea Sets
Whether you’re looking for beautiful teacups and saucers, teapots, or beautiful settings, Bahoukas Antiques can add pizzazz to your tea party. Just look at 4 patterns from the very latest teacups and saucers we’ve acquired:
Teacups in blues
Teacups in Lavendar
Teacups in shades of green
Tecups in yellows
Tea Party Etiquette
Of course, you can be very traditional or casual. But a little extra decorum can make a tea party a special event while still being plenty of fun. You might experiment with different tea flavors. Or you could ask each to bring a small dessert to share.
If you have a matching tea set, a traditional tea party is definitely a good excuse to pull it out and show it off. If not, mismatching cups bring fun and color to your table.
The whole point of a tea party is to get together and enjoy tea. Pick your favorite teas to pour and share with your friends.
A beautiful display of our many teacups and saucers
So choose your theme. Then stop by Bahoukas if you need to add a few teacups and saucers, serving trays, or a teapot. Make it fun. Mix and match. Invite friends that will enjoy the tea and share stories and laughter. A tea party just might be what you need.
Don’t forget… we’re here… and we’re watchin’ for ya.
Radios – to collect or to add a bit of pizzazz to your decor
There are as many reasons to collect radios as there is the number of collectors. Nostalgia is often the ‘start’ when you found a radio that reminds you of the one you owned as a kid. We have a delightful variety of transistor radios (and more) in our shop.
Dads carried metal tins with lunch to their jobs in the coal mines and factories. Of course, it wasn’t long before their children wanted to copy their dads.
… the first commercial lunch boxes, which resembled metal picnic baskets decorated with scenes of playing children, came out in 1902.
The first lunch box decorated with a famous licensed character was introduced in 1935. Produced by Geuder, Paeschke & Frey, it featured Mickey Mouse, and was a four-color lithographed oval tin, with a pull-out tray inside. It had no vacuum bottle, but did have a handle.
In 1950, Aladdin Industries created the first children’s lunch box based on a television show, Hopalong Cassidy. The Hopalong Cassidy lunch kit, or “Hoppy”, quickly became Aladdin’s cash cow. Debuting in time for back-to-school 1950, it would go on to sell 600,000 units in its first year alone, each at US$2.39. In 1953, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were featured on models introduced by American Thermos.
Huge collection of decorated lunchboxes in plastic and metal
Many of the latest additions are complete with thermoses as well. Do stop in and check it out. They are a great last-minute gift for a child in your life – or your favorite collector. Remember, not just great for lunch, but fun for picnics, playing, keeping treasures, and more.
School Desks
Beautiful wooden and cast iron school desk.
The above desk is in beautiful condition. We also have another as pictured below:
Another beautiful wood school desk.
Another choice is this wood desk:
The front of the desk had the bench for the desk that sat in front of it
1881: The Fashion School Desk
The First Model
The first school desk was made in 1880 by John D. Loughlin in Sidney, Ohio. The desk, known as “The Fashion Desk,” proved to be extremely popular across the country. The practicality of the desks allowed for many to be put together in a one room schoolhouse, and the fashion aspect of it was aesthetically pleasing to those in the education industry. Loughlin’s marketing campaign also helped to sell these desks, which would eventually sweep the nation. The “Fashion Desks” were desks attached to one another and were big enough to seat two or three children. Usually, there was an inkwell so that the student could replenish his pen’s supply.
The Sidney School Furniture Company, located in Sidney, Ohio, began manufacturing the popular “Fashion” school desk in 1881. Advertising for the desk claimed, “No desk in the market is made with more care, nor of better materials than the ‘Fashion,’ and none has met with a more popular reception, or gives better satisfaction.” The desk featured a Patent T-head, which eliminated screws and bolts by joining the wood of the top, back, and seat to the legs, which were made of cast iron.
… with writing pad. These are solid and have a shelf on the bottom to place books and bags.
So whether it’s a lunchbox or a school desk, we can add a last-minute ‘surprise’ to your holiday gift-giving. Hurry in. We’re watchin’ for ya so that we can help you with your last-minute searches. Don’t forget, we DO CLOSE for Christmas Day and New Years Day. (Give us a call to be sure we didn’t leave early on the eve of both!) Happy Holidays!
What is it about the smell of coffee that can take us back to grandma’s or mom’s house in our memories? Even those who don’t drink coffee share similar memories. (Sorry, can’t help but remember this sound from the Maxwell House Coffee commercial!)
Of course, we know the aroma most often brings warm and cozy feelings to mind. Sitting around a kitchen table, fingers wrapped around a hot cup of coffee, conversation lively and fun.
We have some beautiful chrome electric percolators available at Bahoukas. Various shapes and sizes and yes, they do work!
An electric percolator – great for entertaining.
May Your Holiday Offer the Warm Feelings of Years Gone By
This ad seems to be perfect for the season. Enjoy! And don’t forget, we’re here except for Christmas Day and New Years Day. Give us a call on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve just in case we leave early to enjoy our holiday with our loved ones and friends.
Vintage cake carriers and keepers, also known as cake savers, are once-common items that bring a nostalgic or vintage feel to the kitchen.
Tins have been used for saving and transporting food since the 19th Century. There were also covered metal “pails” for carrying lunches and multi-compartment ones for taking pies, cakes, and other dishes one from place to another.
Cake carriers have a wire, metal or plastic, to hold the pieces together (plate and cover) so that you can transport it. Cake servers usually have a cover that fits over the plate of cake. It often is designed to sit on a kitchen counter and match the kitchen’s decor.
Cake Plates and Stands
beautiful glass cake plates
A cake stand is a structural, stool like object on which cake and other pastries are decorated and served. Cake stands are generally a single plate connected to a pedestal or multiple plates in a tower like hosting object. Cake stands are a form of tableware, they come in different materials like wood, pottery, metal, etc.
… The cake stand came into use in the late Victorian times when afternoon tea came into fashion. Presenting the cake at a higher level above the table gave the cake more attention. Therefore the cake stand usually has multiple tiers and hooped handle for the purpose of carrying.
To offer a beautiful way to display your Holiday Cakes, stop by and see our selection of plates, stands, servers, and carriers. Don’t forget that muffins, cupcakes, and other delicious pastries can be displayed and transported with these items.
It’s a wonderful way to share a message of ‘welcome.’ Just like we do at Bahoukas Antiques when we keep reminding you that “yep, we’re here and we’re watchin’ for ya!”
The above photo is a 1910 Oliver Typewriter available in our store. Here’s a great quote from a collector’s website:
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the typewriter industry was developing rapidly. Before the Oliver typewriter entered the market, text remained hidden from the typist on the underside of the platen as it was typeset until the platen was lifted. This design was convention across many successful typewriter brands of the era. However, the typewriting industry was soon revolutionized by Reverend Thomas Oliver and his eponymous invention. The Oliver typewriter features two towers of typebars which strike down onto the platen, allowing the text to remain visible at all times. With this iconic typing mechanism, the Oliver become known as The Standard Visible Writer.
The history of manual typewriters began in 1575, when an Italian printmaker, Francesco Rampazetto, invented a machine to impress letters on papers. Not until 1714 did a Brit named Henry Mill take out a patent for a machine similar to a typewriter.
It was until 1874 that these typewriters were commercially introduced to Europe and America. By the early 1900s, the electric typewriter would hit the market.
Tom Thumb Cash Registers and Typewriter
Did you ever get one of these for a Christmas gift? The cash registers came first to be followed in 1953 with the Tom Thumb Typewriter.
Tom Thumb toy typewriter by Western Stamping Co.
It was the beginning of the glory days of the durable metal Tom Thumb toy cash register, manufactured exclusively at Western Stamping Co., 2203 W. Michigan Ave.
“I bet they made 600,000 of those cash registers a year for at least 10 years,” said Edna Whiting, 86, of Blackman Township, daughter of Arthur Poole, a company founder.
… The toy cash register’s keys were first attached one at a time. By 1953, they were attached in one process, which upped production and enabled the company to produce half a million cash registers and 100,000 typewriters that year.
Many of us “boomers” probably remember the heavy black Royal typewriter. They seemed to last FOREVER! This interesting quote may help explain why:
To promote the ruggedness of its typewriters, George Edward Smith, president of Royal bought a Ford-Stout tri-motor airplane in August 1927. This plane will drop over 200 typewriters in crates with parachutes to dealers over the eastern seaboard of the USA. Royal will eventually deliver over 11,000 this way with only 10 being damaged.
Many famous writers used their typewriters, often long after the computer arrived.
Author Will Self explains why writers use a manual typewriter: “I think the computer user does their thinking on the screen, and the non-computer user is compelled, because he or she has to retype a whole text, to do a lot more thinking in the head.”
In 1883, Mark Twain was the first to present his ‘typewritten manuscript” to a publisher. The book? Life on the Mississippi
And did you know that J.R.R. Tolkein typed and retyped his Lord of the Rings manually on a typewriter? Jack Kerouac was a speed typist at 100 words per minute!
Read more about writers and the typewriters in the link in the above post.
No matter what the reason: you love to type on a manual typewriter, you’re fascinated by the mechanics themselves, or you’re a collector! Stop by and browse our collection of typewriters. We’re here and we most certainly are watchin’ for ya!
The tools pictured are ice tongs and ice saw used to cut blocks of ice from the Susquehanna River when it froze thick enough – ideally 8″ thick! It was hard work. The blocks of ice at 8″ thick would average 2.67 cubic feet and weigh about 150 lbs (considered manageable weight)! This info is included in the book: Heavy Industries of Yesteryear, Harford County’s Rural Heritage, by Jack L. Shagena, Jr. and Henry C. Peden, Jr. (available in our store).
Why did we need ice blocks?
Into the 1930s, households used large blocks of ice to keep food cold in “iceboxes.”
This photo is from the 1920s. Courtesy of the Sloane Collection.
By the end of the 1800s, many American households stored their perishable food in an insulated “icebox” that was usually made of wood and lined with tin or zinc. A large block of ice was stored inside to keep these early refrigerators chilly. By this point, cold had become the clear choice among food preservation methods, proving less labor-intensive and more effective at preventing spoilage. Other techniques, like salting, drying, and canning, erased any appearance of freshness and required more time to prepare. Iceboxes also presented a new way to save prepared foods—or leftovers—that previously might not have lasted beyond one meal.
The above photo is of Abbott Bros Ice House, located where the Havre de Grace Marine Center is on Water Street in Havre de Grace.
For the local history lover on your holiday gift list, at least one of the items featured, the book, and the Abbott Bros Ice House photo (available at Bahoukas) would make an awesome addition to their collection. Talk to George today.
In the meantime, hurry in to find YOUR favorite items for someone on your gift list. And yes, we’re definitely watchin’ for ya!
Everyone at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving, hopefully, shared with family and friends. PLEASE NOTE that we are CLOSED for Thanksgiving Day to enjoy our own families and to appreciate all that we’ve been given. Regular hours will return tomorrow and we’ll be open 7 days/week until Christmas Day!
We know that as soon as this holiday is over, folks will be “full steam ahead” for holiday decorating and gift-giving ideas. The above photo gives you a peek at our latest addition to our vintage holiday decorations – beautiful Vintage Santas!
These beautiful very collectible, figural glass ornaments are beautiful. The set, from Santa’s Kaleidoscope, is waiting for just the right home to add a bit of pizzazz to your holiday decor!
Vintage Christmas Decor
Vintage Christmas Decorations
Here’s a sampling of more vintage and very collectible decorations to add a bit of whimsy to your holiday decor. Hurry in. These items tend to go quickly. And yes, we’re watchin’ for ya and are ready to point you in the right direction!
Again, Happy Thanksgiving. Safe travels. Always be grateful!
It is estimated that over the years, more than 300 million miniature Wade figures have been distributed with Red Rose Teas. Does someone you know collect them? And Red Rose Tea is still very popular as are their Wade miniatures!
Miniature Wade figures of farm animals and more
Another Tiny Collection
These miniature Wade Figures offer another ‘tiny collection’ that can be fun to collect. Maybe you have a child that would enjoy creating a collection. Originally called Wade Whimsies, there are several series created through the years.
The American Series #1, (1983 to 1985) consisted of 15 figurines, with one Whimsies packaged in each box of Red Rose tea.
The first animal series included a chimp, lion, bison, bush baby, owl, bear cub, rabbit, squirrel, bird, otter, hippo, turtle, seal, wild boar, and elephant.
Series II ( 1985 to 1996 )
The second series, also of animals, was issued from 1985 to 1996 and totaled 20 figurines. It was selected from a group that had also first appeared in earlier Wade series. The animals represented were the giraffe, koala bear, pine marten, langur, gorilla, kangaroo, tiger, camel, zebra, polar bear, orangutan, leopard, rhino, raccoon, leopard, puppy, rabbit, kitten, pony and cockateel.
Series III – The Circus Animal Series (1994 to 1999) was the third to appear.
Fifteen figurines made up this series, including; ringmaster, human cannonball, strongman, clown with drum, clown with pie, bear, sitting elephant, standing elephant, male monkey, female monkey, lion, poodle, seal, horse, and tiger.
SERIES IV – Endangered North American Animals ( 1999 and 2002 ), was the fourth series.
The 10 figurines were the spotted owl, bald eagle, polar bear, peregrine falcon, humpback whale, Florida panther, manatee, green sea turtle, timber wolf, and sturgeon.
SERIES V – Noah’s Ark was the fifth series.
Fourteen male and female animals, representing seven kinds of wildlife, and a single figurine of Noah and his wife made up the set of 15. They include the elephant, rhino, zebra, goose and gander, hen and rooster, ram and ewe, lion and lioness, and Noah and his wife.
SERIES VI – Pet Shop Friends ( 2006 to 2008 ) was the sixth series.
The 10 animals appearing between 2006 and 2008 were the duck, pony, rabbit, turtle, kittens, puppies, Labrador, budgie, tropical fish, and cat.
SERIES VII – The Wade Red Rose Calendar series ( 2008 to 2012 ) was the seventh series.
One figure representative of each month was included from 2008 to 2012: snowman, cupid, leprechaun, Easter bunny, Mother’s Day flowers, graduation, Uncle Sam, sandcastle, scarecrow, pumpkin kitty, turkey, and Christmas tree.
SERIES VII – the Nautical Wonderland Series, the eighth and current series, was introduced in 2012.
The series includes the compass, conch shell, mermaid, ships wheel, treasure chest, divers helmet, lighthouse, sailboat, seagull, seahorse, crab, and starfish.
They are still creating Miniature Wade Figurines for Red Rose Tea. And the Red Rose Tea website has very interesting information related to their teas as well as their Wade figures.
*In 2012, The Nautical Wonderland Series came next.
Explore our nautical heritage with these twelve figurines. This series illustrates everything to love about the ocean, from the warmth and calm of the beach, to the adventure and spirit of sailing the seas, to the mysteries and legends of the sunken depths.
*American Heritage Series (2016)
Exclusively designed by Wade Ceramics, these splendid, porcelain miniatures celebrate the illustrious history of America, from Colonial Times to the Space Age. Red Rose Tea is proud to depict landmark moments in our national history through these distinguished miniatures.
*World Monument Series (2020)
Explore the globe with these porcelain miniatures exclusively designed by Wade Ceramics! Iconic landmarks, feats of architecture and mysteries of the world are represented. Travel back to ancient times or marvel at modern achievements – the Worldwide Monument Series has it all!
*These are from the Red Rose Tea website. At this site, you can view photos of the latest miniatures.
So stop by and see our collection of Wade miniatures. Maybe you’ll want to add to your own collection or help a young person start their ‘tiny collection.’ We’re here. And yep, we’re watchin’ for ya!
Whether or not you smoke, ashtrays are appealing collectibles for numerous reasons.
First, they are small, which means you can acquire hundreds of ashtrays and display them in a relatively finite amount of space.
Second, they were made out of a wide range of materials, so if you are a fan of art glass, pounded copper, or ceramics, there is bound to be an ashtray for you.
Third, ashtrays were produced during some of the most creative periods in history, which means there are ashtrays for fans of the Victorian era, Arts and Crafts, and Art Deco.
Finally, ashtrays are snapshots of their culture, so it is not uncommon to find ashtrays that were produced to advertise products and events of the day.
Ashtrays came in all styles – silly to beautifully designed, touristy and promotional.
To show you just how diverse ashtray collections can be, here we show you a German Spinner by Gerzt (top center), the resting Mexican (made in Japan), the promotional ashtray from PENROSE, and the horse’s ‘arse’. Yep, something for everyone!
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Did you know that ashtrays are a design element included in the Cooper Hewitt Museum, located in the Andrew Carnegie Mansion on Fifth Avenue, NYC? We sure wish we had one of these in our collection!
Russel Wright designed ashtray
… is displayed at the Cooper Hewitt
Preserving the natural qualities of ceramics in spite of the dominance of machine-produced pottery has been a challenge for designers since the introduction of machinery to the production process in the eighteenth century.
Russel Wright addressed this design dilemma through his biomorphic earthenware. This ashtray, part of a 1949 series manufactured by Sterling China for hotels and restaurants, embodies Wright’s idea of designing machine-made ceramics that simulate their handcrafted counterparts. Flaring up and out from its low base, the ashtray has a curved, asymmetrical rim that appears as though it was pinched and folded by hand. Although entirely molded by machine, the ashtray’s profile suggests the involvement of human contact throughout its production. The organic form also makes the ashtray user-friendly and invites human contact and interactions: the undulating rim is excellent for resting cigarettes, and the groove holds a matchbook perfectly. The groove also allowed restaurant workers to stack multiple ashtrays, the base of one fitting neatly into the ashtray below.
Do you ever wonder who invented the first lighter? No, it wasn’t the Zippo Company, though they certainly improved on it! The first was invented in 1823. The Zippo didn’t come into the picture until 1932.
Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner invented the first lighter known as “Döbereiner’s Lamp.” It looked nothing like the lighters we use today and was also difficult to use and extremely dangerous.
The above lighters can be found in our shop and include: Top left: a cigarette case with lighter, a Queen Anne style lighter, a novelty grenade, military shell, and card cube, a Zippo lighter, and a rather art deco looking styled tabletop lighter.
So if you, or someone you know, has a collection of lighters and/or ashtrays, you just might want to check our collection. We’re here. And we’re watchin’ for ya!
