Ashtrays are picking up speed as a popular collectible. Folks are quitting smoking to get healthy and public smoking is being banned in public places. As a result, the market is being flooded with a wide variety of vintage and antique ashtrays. Now is a great time to start collecting!
Ashtrays are included in the larger category called Tobacciana. This category includes all items related to smoking, chewing tobacco and snuff. Because of renewed popularity, ashtrays could be considered a category unto itself. There are clubs to join specifically for ashtray enthusiasts, books written about ashtrays and ashtrays also make a great cross-collectible.
The first thing to consider when starting a collection is what type of ashtray to collect. Buying up every ashtray seen because the price is right will eventually lead to display and storage problems. Think about concentrating on a specific material or theme. Ashtrays are made of materials such as glass, ceramic, metal, chalkware and plastic. Themes may vary from advertising to commemorative. Location or country of origin may be a good grouping. Perhaps a certain color collection would complement a home decor. Selecting a favorite era narrows it down as well. Also, consider the more unique ashtray collectible such as nodders, figurative, ethnic, hanging and stands. Buy what is favored, not what may be popular or may be worth money someday.
When the sub-category of ashtray is decided, learn everything there is to know about that collectible. Borrow books from the library, search online, join a club, visit antique stores and talk to dealers. A wealth of information can be obtained by investing a bit of time. It is well worth the effort in knowing the specifics and history of the chosen type of ashtray. Buy with confidence.
Garage sales, flea markets, auctions, antique stores and thrift shops are a few of the venues that may offer a wide variety of ashtrays at an affordable price. Friends and family may give them away just for the asking. Once the word is out about a serious collector, ashtrays tend to show up from many different sources.
Buy within a budget. Set aside a certain amount of money just for the collection. Throw change in a jar (or ashtray) to save for collecting purchases only. Buy collectibles in quantity. At a garage sale, offer a set bargain price for a group of ashtrays rather than paying full price. This works very well when the garage sale is drawing to a close and folks don’t want to haul things back to storage.
Try not to buy chipped, cracked, discolored, stained, distorted or otherwise broken ashtrays. Burn marks from cigarettes are difficult, if not impossible to remove. These are usually of lesser or no value and will likely not increase in value. The exception to this would be for an incredibly rare and valuable ashtray. But the chances of finding one are slim. Better to start a collection with nice items.
Clean the ashtray as soon as it is brought home. How the cleaning is done depends on the material it is made of. There are several schools of thought on how to clean various materials such as vintage ceramics and metal. Check professional resources for cleaning methods for specific materials. The same principles that apply to cleaning antiques and collectibles will generally apply to ashtrays, too.
Once an ashtray collection is started it is time to think about where and how to display it. Perhaps, devote a special space for ashtrays only. A shelf, an open cupboard, an antique table are all good display options. Add doilies or mats underneath, disperse among other collectibles or spread them throughout the home. Take pictures and share them online. There are no rules, it is all a matter of personal preference.
