A handmade, pale-blue, brand advertising ashtray, produced by James Green & Nephews Ltd for Gilbey's, the famous wine and spirits merchant. Second-hand.
What's for sale?
This is a cube-shaped, branded, advertising ashtray for Gilby's London dry gin & Spey-Royal Scotch whisky.
The design was also available in pink, and was intended for everyday use in bars, hotels and restaurants. It's a small, centre piece ashtray and so has four cigarette rests, one in each corner.
The main graphic depicts an upmarket waiter in red uniform, carrying a tray of cocktails and is a near perfect design for the subject. It was probably made during the 1950s or 1960s.
Gilbey's was founded in London in 1857 by brothers Walter and Albert Gilbey in the basement of a shop on Londons' Oxford Street. They were a hugely-successful family business which eventually, via several corporate mergers and takeovers, became part of Diageo.
Who made it?
It was made by James Green & Nephews Ltd of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Their maker's mark is visible underneath, where in a circular design it states:
- James Green & Nephew Ltd
- designers & manufacturers
- london & stoke
- made in england
What condition is it in?
- Second-hand
- In very good condition
- No chips or cracks
- There are several pale areas of glaze where the blue must have been thinly applied
- There is faint crazing in many places, which is visible on very close inspection
- There is a more obvious area of crazing on the base, beneath the maker's mark
What are the measurements?
- 6cm high (about 2.5 inches)
- 10.5cm square(4 inches)
- 328 grams
If you have any questions, just send an email to help@3bcshop.com.
