Ashtray

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Hotel Taft American, built in 1911

MakerMade by Gerard, Dufraisseix & Abbot French, founded 1902

Dateabout 1940-1960

MediumMold-formed porcelain with gilding an overglaze enamels in blue, green, and red

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (width x depth): 4 15/16 x 3 3/16in. (12.5 x 8.1cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineMuseum purchase

DescriptionRectangular, porcelain ashtray with a gilded rim and printed overglaze enamels in blue, green, and red. The ashtray has a relatively wide rim with slight, semi-circular indentations in the rim at either of the ends. The central decoration on the ashtray consists of the blue enamel letters "T" and "H". The "T" is superimposed on the "H" in such a way that the crossed "T" forms the horizontal line in the "H". These are the initials for the Hotel Taft of New Haven, Connecticut, as indicated by the mark on the bottom of the ashtray. Surrounding the initials are six single or pairs of flowers, printed on the rim and flowing onto the flat bottom of the ashtray. The flowers are blue and red, and they rest on various lengths of green stems with leaves. The gilded rim shows moderate amounts of wear.

Object number1998.76.14

MarkingsThere are two marks on the bottom of the ashtray: an underglaze, green, printed mark of the cursive letters "GDA" over a block capital "FRANCE"; and an overglaze, red, enamel printed mark of "GDA/LIMOGES" surrounded by a wreath over "HOTEL TAFT/ New Haven, Conn."

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