Walter Bosse Hand Ashtray

An exquisite 'hand' ashtray, designed by Walter Bosse and produced by Herta Baller, Austria, in the 1950s.

One of Bosse's most famous & most elegant works is the 'hand' ashtray; a sophisticated blend of function & humour that evokes the stylish aesthetic of 1950's Parisian fashion.

The 'hand' ashtray has been modelled in an elegant pose, with its thumb and forefinger pinching to hold a cigarette in an extremely distinguished manner. The design, handmade in brass, features long, tapered fingers which are gently curved. The objects bowl has a lightly hammered surface, which contributes to the handmade quality of this item. 

As with most pieces from the Baller workshop, this item has gone through a process of chemical patination which gives the brass its black appearance. Certain areas, such as the very tips of the fingers and the lower palm, have been polished back to reveal their golden shine. 

An unusual design in the context of Bosse's other works, this piece shows a direct reaction to the prevailing aesthetics of the mid-20th Century homewares industry.