Murano Seguso-style Gold Flecked Seashell Vintage Ashtray (1950's)

This Murano Seguso-style Gold Flecked Ashtray is right out of the "Mad Men" world — where everybody smokes in style, drinks, men wear suits and ties (and real shoes!) and ladies wear hats and gloves in public. While smoking may be unpopular these days, this quirky and enchanting ashtray can hold candies, car keys, mints or just about anything else... imagine it in an entryway, dining room, library or hall space. It is formed in a sort of seashell or clamshell style. It is very "Mid-century" Modern — crazily colored and impertinent.

We believe it was created by the Seguso studios, known among other things for their stunning and playful ashtray designs — but there is no signature and we have not found a match for this design in our research. The sticker (for determining provenance) was washed away long ago...

The Seguso family has been dedicated to the art of Murano glass in Venice since May 3, 1397. Seguso is one of the most esteemed, historical and respected glass manufacturers on the island, and among the largest glass furnaces in Murano, which has a few, homonymous furnaces.

It has great heft and appears to be clear cased over the ample, rich gold patterning. And given that gold was $35 per ounce at the timer of its manufacture, perhaps the value of the gold in the Ashtray is another reason to consider its rarity and value.

The piece weighs about 3 lbs. and is about 6 inches wide and long. Don't miss out on this unique piece — it typifies an era and a sensibility that seem