Alabaster ashtray, Italy

Elegant and timeless, this cream-coloured alabaster ashtray with slight grey marbling will fit into all styles of interiors, from vintage to contemporary. It can also serve as a small catch-all on a desk or in an entrance. And it’s not the kind of object that will be accidentally knocked over; it weighs just over 1 kg! There is a lovely contrast between the smooth, polished upper surface, all rounded, and the rougher edge. Indeed, the edge alternates between cut areas where the striations left by the cutting tool are visible and uncut areas showing all the reliefs of the extracted rock. It is likely from the 1960s or 70s, as alabaster was predominantly sourced from quarries in Italy at that time, notably extracted by the family business Romano Bianchi. This seems to be confirmed by the fact that the label mentions "alabastro," alabaster in Italian, first. It is in good overall condition, with neither cracks nor chips, but it does show signs of its age: small nicks or abrasions at the edges, as alabaster is a slightly softer stone than marble. It measures approximately 14 cm by 15 cm with a thickness of 3.5 cm.