Concrete Ashtrays
When you hear the word “concrete,” visions of parking garages and drab, brutalist architecture might come to mind. It certainly doesn’t conjure any of the warm
images related to cigars. Three companies, however, saw the beauty and potential of this industrial material and have brought concrete into the mix, introducing a new medium and creating an entirely new category of ashtrays.
In the wrong hands, a concrete ashtray might end up resembling a cinder block, but in the hands of French company Les Fines Lames, the ashtrays have an expressive, modern flare and are offered in a wide spectrum of colors that pop without being too loud or obtrusive. They’re available in seven colors, from dark, brooding shades of gray to the cheerier green and red Dyad models shown here. Seen at left, they retail for $78 each. Single-cigar Monad models are also available in the same colors. All are lightly textured without appearing crudely cast.
Extending its wide portfolio of cigar accessories, Davidoff of Geneva decided to dabble in concrete as well, giving its ashtrays a contoured, European esthetic and a contrasting accent around the rim. The bowl’s interior is sealed and polished to resist discoloration. The ashtrays come in three finishes—White Marbled, Dark Grey and Light Grey (upper right). While the large models hold four cigars and are trimmed in yellow gold ($270), the small models, like the one shown ($225), hold two cigars and are finished with a rose-gold rim.
Perhaps the most innovative, Storcks Designs integrates its concrete with colorful dyes during the casting process, creating a deep marbling effect throughout each piece that won’t fade or wear away. The ashtrays come in single-cigar models ($50, lower right) and models that hold four cigars ($99). Both sizes come in a choice of five marbled colors—black, green, blue, yellow and terracotta—in addition to solid shades of black and gray.
Regardless of style, all these cementitious ashtrays are easy to clean and surprisingly light. Crystal ashtrays of comparable size are just as heavy, if not heavier, though the concrete construction gives these ashtrays the edge in versatility, as they’re durable enough for indoor and outdoor use.
