Skeleton Cast Iron Ashtray & Trinket Dish

2026-04-13T18:55:16-07:00

Vendor: Great Western
Type: Oddities
Price: 29.99

THE STORY
Add a macabre touch of the Victorian study to your space with this high-quality 'Skeleton Cast Iron Ashtray'. Expertly cast with a heavy tactile weight, this piece features a detailed skeleton reclining within the dish, blending dark elegance with industrial utility. Whether used for its original purpose, kept as a unique trinket dish for keys and coins, or displayed as a standalone piece of "Memento Mori" decor, it serves as a rugged and mysterious conversation starter that is truly built to last.
HISTORICAL NOTE
In the mid-to-late 19th century, "Memento Mori" (Latin for "Remember you must die") was a popular theme in art and home hardware. Following the industrial revolution, cast iron foundries began producing highly detailed novelty ashtrays and desk accessories featuring skeletal motifs. These pieces were common in private libraries and gentlemen's smoking rooms, serving as both functional tools and philosophical reminders of the fleeting nature of time—a classic hallmark of Victorian-era gothic design.
THE DETAILS

Dimensions: 6.5" x 3.5" x 2.5"

Weight: 0.9 lbs (Approx.)

Material: Cast Iron

Finish: Hand-Antiqued and Distressed