HaegerAshtrays.com
No. 106 DIY
Explanatory Note
This ashtray was not manufactured by Haeger, but rather the mold was sold from a catalog titled Haeger MOLDS 1961, Americana Ceramic Art Supply, National Representatives for Ceramic Art Products by Haeger.
The mold was likely sold to a pottery shop open to local hobbyists. The shop would cast clay pieces and sell them to their customers. Included with the price paid for the piece the hobbyist could visit the shop as necessary to complete the painting of their item with glazes, then the shop would fire the piece in their kiln to complete the production process. Pottery shops for hobbyists continue to operate in this manner to this day.
Such pieces were often inscribed by the hobbyist, either in the glaze or directly into the clay. Both methods were used in this example.
Free Form Ashtray from DIY mold 14" circa unknown (see above), glazes provided by pottery shop, photos from the collection of Allen Rothpearl
Bottom reads:
- Embossed from mold: 106 USA ROYAL HAEGER
- Inscribed by hobbyist and shop owner: A name inscribed in the clay, and a number inscribed in the glaze, neither fully legible. The number was probably inscribed by the shop owner to identify the piece before firing.
