Strange 20 lb ashtray  

My thoughts would be that...
My thoughts would be that the incised lines could be a heck of a lot straighter, and that smoking is a dangerous habit that kills a half a million people a year. I'm not preaching, in fact I'm an ex-smoker myself, I'm just always amazed when modern designers with utopian visions of the future design products (ashtrays) that further deadly habits. Of course in 1971 there wasn't the same level of awareness on the hazards of smoking, although I think the original Marlboro Man had already been diagnosed with lung cancer, but this little factoid was kept very quiet. Ok enough of a rant. Big chunky heavy ashtrays make great dresser top or dressing room catch-alls for change, a watch, etc. But again are those incised lines and are they as crooked as they appear?

Holy gee, Duh, Big Television Man
This forum is for DESIGN not to discuss the item's intended use, for pity sake.
The man who made this ashtray is a world renowed metal scupturer from Greece who lives in Brazil. His twisted and melted scuptures are on display in hundred of museums.
He apparently did a batch of ashtrays in the 1960's or 1970's.
Do you or don't you like the design? Isn't it outragious?
As far as it being an ashtray, Saarinen made one too. There are photos in both Herman Miller catalogs (1948 and 1952) with ashtrays.
So...what's your point?

Sorry, as I said I didn't...
Sorry, as I said I didn't want to preach. But is not a part of design and the discussion thereof its intended use (form and function) and not just how it looks? I stated that I thought the lines might be straighter for a cleaner modern look. I in no way meant to offend. But if you put up a photo of an ICBM missile, (an example in the extreme) it has sleek, cool, functional design, but to not mention at all the ICBM's intended use somehow seems to miss the essence of the design. It may look cool, but it is (the ICBM) meant to kill human beings. Perhaps I'm wrong, and again I'm sorry if I have in any way offended you. You have great stuff in your photos.

As far as ashtrays go, I...
As far as ashtrays go, I like it. It's unique. It is rough around the edges, but that's what some people like. How the hell is it 20 pounds at a 6 inch diameter?!

Oh, and I won't preach. In...
Oh, and I won't preach. In my earlier thread (I see red spots) you can see my Camels in the foreground. I'll quit again one day soon. They sure make the aftermath of good food and good sex better though. I'll miss 'em.

Smoking and Mid-Century furniture
All the best and most knowledge collectors smoke.
Thought everyone knew that.
Oh yea, and relating to another post where they said 'Red is new orange', what a trendy and awful term.
Is 'Dumb the new smart'?
(laughs out loud, au-go-go)

art ashtray
On the surface it looks heavy and craggy. Maybe I'm lacking some crucial life experience or missing a chapter in my imagination's library which prevents me from appreciating it, but it seems unremarkable to me. It actually smacks of Mechanics Garage type styling you see...ashtrays made from bent rods or chewed up gears -- chairs made from old rims. I mean that in the best way possible by the way.

Red is the new orange
was meant as a joke
you're American..right ?

I got it
Josie and the Pussycats is the new Josie and the Pussycats

Yup
Red is the new orange
was meant as a joke
you're American..right ?
==============
Yup...another Ugly American.
Here's a few more:
Aalto is the new Eames
Nelson is the new Frank Lloyd Wright
Saarinen is the new Frank Geary
Everyone is the new Kagan
....
Design Addict is the new You Tube
but I degress