HaegerAshtrays.com
No. 106
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 as was the case in this example directly into the clay.
Free Form Ashtray - DIY Mold 14" circa unknown (see above, and this example is dated 1974 by the hobbyist), glazes provided by pottery shop, photos from the collection of Michael Bono
Bottom reads:
- Embossed from mold: 106 USA ROYAL HAEGER
- Inscribed by hobbyist (see photo, below): To Betty Ehrsan from Jane Kaster 1974
