Italian Circular Metal and Amber Glass Ashtray, 1970s

Florence, 1970s. Italian design of this decade enjoyed pairing polished metal with tinted glass, in clean, almost industrial forms. This circular ashtray is a fine example. A chrome-plated metal ring, with a glossy finish, holds a removable dish in smoked amber blown glass — a warm tone typical of Italian glasswork of the seventies. The whole, compact and dense, plays on the contrast between the coolness of the metal and the tobacco hue of the glass. The metal shows a fine period patina, without dulling its shine; the amber glass is in fine condition, free of chips or cracks. The piece comes from Florence. At 12 cm in diameter and 4 cm high, this ashtray sits equally well on a coffee table or a desk. A simple, graphic piece, to use as is or repurpose as a catch-all.