Once upon a time, ashtrays were everywhere in private homes, hotels clubs and restaurants. However, with dire warnings about “Cigarette smoking being injurious to health”printed prominently on every packet of cigarettes along with scary photographs of smoke damaged lungs, ashtrays have now become a thing of the past.
In my home too, the ASHTRAYS disappeared when Hubby Dear stopped smoking over three decades ago. Occasionally, they would be taken out for the guest who couldn’t live without a puff but today I literally have to hunt them out and insist that they be used in the verandah, far away from the grandchildren crawling about.
These are some of the ashtrays that remain from our once vast collection: The brass ashtray on the left made from a recycled brass shell is easily recognized by anyone with an Indian Army connection; the terracotta tortoise with sea shells is a piece of whimsy that crawled into the house by accident and the crystal one is a gift from our Polish business associates that once occupied pride of place on our coffee table.
Gone are the days when people could blow smoke rings in public and smokers are confined to restricted areas. It won’t be long before tobacco goes out of fashion and ashtrays too.
Do you think future historians will puzzle over these artefact one day?
I’m participating with over 1000 bloggers in the 7th A to Z Challenge , the brainchild of Arlee Bird .
Do visit the A to Z Challenge posts on Facebook.
Twenty- five Seven 
Leave a comment