Dog Ashtrays

By Bob Patterson

This pooch has a story that needs to be told. I first saw him in an antique mall in Redlands, California about 25 years ago. It was puppy love at first sight but unfortunately at the time I didn’t have the small asking price on me, and I left the sad little pooch in the mall. I returned about a week later to claim him, but he had already been sold.

This is the view of the Dog Ashtray from the top, which is in high relief.

A few weeks later Don Carter, past President of the San Diego Carnival Glass Club, showed up at a meeting with his new find. He had a good laugh when I told him my story. I tried to ply him away with a nice cash offer, but Don loved the pooch too. However, he said that if he ever was to part with him, he would give me the first opportunity. I was happy that Don adopted him and that he didn’t go to who knows where.

Well after all these years Don was finally ready to sell the pooch, and he remembered his promise and called me. We settled on a price and his daughter brought it to the SoCal Convention for me. It was a happy reunion, and he has settled in at our home where he will be loved.

An unusual feature of the ashtray is that when it is viewed from the back side, he becomes Chewbacca! Yep, the beloved Wookie from Star Wars. He looks a little sad to not have top billing on this item. It’s a good thing that Star Wars happened a long time ago in a far away Galaxy. I don’t need Hans Solo showing up at my door and trying to claim his sidekick.

When photographed upside down, the Dog Ashtray suddenly appears to look like Chewbacca of Star Wars fame.

The maker of this ashtray is still not known, long after I first saw one in Marion Hartung’s sixth book on Carnival Glass. There have only been a few found and all in marigold iridescence. The last reported sale of one according to Dave Doty was in 2014 for $350. No buts about it, this pooch will not get any ashes in his eyes as long as stays in our home and Chewie will have to stare at the tabletop.

Photos courtesy of Bob Patterson.

This article first appeared in the ICGA Pump in the June 2016 issue and is reprinted with permission.