This is a very interesting piece of smoking related Australiana. This item has an ashtray in the form of a concave cast iron map of Australia with a bronze (I think) aboriginal figure attached to the Northern Territory. Apart from a basic clean the item is in "as found" condition, the figure is still somewhat stained, the ashtray has white paint spots and some oxidation. The posture of left arm and hand of the figure suggests that it should contain a spear or other hunting implement, but there is no evidence of this, no recess in the hard or stump of broken implement is evident It is conceivable that the shape of the left hand has some smoking related function. A repair has been made to the mount of the figure, a piece of the Northern Territory has broken off at some time and another screw has been inserted. I have no way of dating this item, 20th century I think. The map is 16cm by 12cm, the figure is 9 cm high. Item available at $85.00.
This item has been sold.
