Sascha Brastoff

A few months ago I went to the second day of a two-day estate sale that was featuring mostly Heisey glass.  I posted about my wild time there--the sales crew laughing at me, finding a lidded dish that's pink AND phallic-looking--but I didn't mention the little ashtray I also purchased.  I noticed it and passed it by several times until the guy running the sale, who appeared to be quite knowledgeable about the things he was selling, pointed to the ashtray and said, "Aren't you going to get the Brastoff piece?  You know it's mid-century."

Sa-WHOOP went my hands and it was added to the pile.  It really doesn't even look used and I'm thinking it was given to the woman as a gift or something.  The motif is referred to as "Houses" although that's not official.  Here's a link if you'd like to learn more about this very interesting man.  

Since we're on the subject of ashtrays, I also thought I'd share this one that I got in a "lot" at the Florida auction.  It's similar to a '70's McCoy line but I'm not sure about the shape being McCoy.  In any event, I think it's pretty groovy.  There are some gold flecks under the glaze and that's what's sparkling in the darker areas.

I was never a big smoker and really only did it when I drank.  Then I met my hubby-to-be and he informed me that kissing someone who smoked was like licking a used ashtray.  You know, when you put it like that, suffice it to say that I stopped smoking back there in 1988 and haven't missed it one bit.  I'm amassing a pretty nifty collection of vintage ashtrays and other tobacciana, though.