Description
Rare Arts and Crafts Era smoke dispenser.
Dispense your small smokes in style from this Arts and Crafts era Egyptian Mausoleum made in the USA by the man who invented lighters, Louis V. Aronson. It’s beautiful and mysterious. The mausoleum form is Egyptian, a popular decorating motif during the late 1800s to early 1900s when exciting new finds were being uncovered in the Middle East.
Made of a copper based alloy with magnetic properties electrically plated with a golden tone. It’s a type of bronze, sometimes called Red Brass. You can see the alloy’s reddish hue on areas where it has been repeatedly touched in the past 100+ years. The natural wear of the golden plating causes a contrast with the bronze that gives this contraption a haunting ancient look.
Aronson’s first metallurgy patent was granted when he was only 16. In 1895 he moved his family to New Jersey and opened the Art Metal Works (see image 7). A very powerful businessman, Aronson ranked high among the Masons and belonged to many different chapters including ‘The Nobles of the Mystic Shrine’ which may have been the inspiration for this design.
Uses simple mechanics to roll out a smoke with a press of the lever. Dispenses small rolled smokes, 2½” at longest. Cedar wood lines most of the interior to keep your little smokes fresh. Adorned with cut glass jewels of emerald and amber. The emerald jewels are embedded in elaborate filigree. The stairs to the crypt are decorated with flowers on the first level, grapes on the second, and foliage on the third. Measures 5″ square on the base, 4.75″ tall and weighs 2.25 lbs. Actual date of manufacturer is unknown, estimated circa 1890 to 1920s.
Items shown in the Big Ashtray Museum are not for sale. Big Ashtray offers a large selection of antique, vintage and retro art ashtrays, plus modern-made ashtrays, for sale in the Big Ashtray shop. Click here to view available items…
