When I was cleaning up my mother’s house a couple of years ago I held on to these two nifty-looking glass bowls. I remember them sometimes being used in our house when I was a kid. On a hunch I asked a couple of the guys who were working on the renovations at my place if they knew what they were. They were both young fellows, in their early 20s. The looked them over and guessed they were candy dishes. Which I suppose is something they could be used for, but it’s not their obvious function.
Their supervisor, who was 40-something, also pulled a blank.
The correct answer will be found in the comments section!
Alex Good 
I am not sure what they are but the one on the left looks like a fancy ashtray for smokers.
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Yep. They’re both ashtrays. The hint are the indentations on the edges that you could rest your cigarette in. My parents didn’t smoke, but if we had guests who were smokers these had to come out.
I was wondering if young people would be able to identify them, not just because they’re obviously very mid-century style but because not as many young people smoke. You don’t see ashtrays just sitting around inside people’s homes much anymore.
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My mum had some fancy pants ashtrays too, I think they’re in the loft! Your one on the right looks like the cigarettes would fall backwards.
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Do you have a loft full of treasures?
The picture is a bit misleading. The notch has a lip that actually tilts down into the bowl. It’s hard to make out.
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Ah right. Our loft has a few treasures, and a lot of model tanks that Phil will never live long enough to make! 😁
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He just needs to prioritize. He’s spending too much time fixing washing machines!
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Hah!
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That was an easy one for me. Although the clunker on the right is one of the types I don’t like. The other is nice.
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I think it’s easier for those of us who remember such things. They’re historical artefacts now and decorations.
I think the one on the right was occasionally used for candy. But it’s primary use was as an ash tray.
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The one on the left is obviously an ashtray. I was going to guess the amber wavy one was a fancy candy dish.
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Nothing is obvious to the untrained eye of youth!
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True. Experience shapes us all, doesn’t it?
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Made me the world historical figure I am today.
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Made me the world historical figure I am today.
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You’re twice the man you were even 5min ago 😉
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Argh. Don’t know why it did that. Guess I’ll leave it up now. A point worth making twice.
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Yeah, obviously ashtrays. But—my mind went elsewhere for a moment. With those streaks of color in the left one, I was thinking uranium glass.
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I had to google uranium glass. Neat-looking stuff!
I think most people around our age would think ashtrays pretty quickly. But I had a hunch the young fellows wouldn’t know and they sure didn’t.
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I think it’s kinda great that youngsters didn’t know. I wish now that I didn’t.
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