Vintage BJS Lava Ashtray in Chamotte Clay with Red Glazed Interior – 1960s/70s

✅ Short Description

Bring a bold touch of 1970s design into your home with this vintage lava ashtray made from chamotte clay. The rugged black exterior creates a striking contrast with the deep red-orange glazed interior. Resting on four small feet and marked with the BJS hallmark on the underside, this piece offers an extra touch of authenticity. Its substantial weight, distinctive texture, and sculptural design make it not only a functional ashtray but also a decorative object that fits perfectly in a Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern, or Space Age interior.

📋 Quick Product Details

• Type: Lava ashtray
• Material: Chamotte clay with glazed interior
• Colour: Black with red-orange glaze
• Marking: BJS (underside)
• Period: Circa 1965–1975
• Style: Brutalist / Mid-Century Modern / Fat Lava
• Feet: Four fixed feet

Dimensions
• Height: 4.5 cm (1.8 in)
• Length: 17 cm (6.7 in)
• Width: 12.5 cm (4.9 in)

Condition
Good vintage condition with normal signs of age and use. Please refer to the photographs for a complete impression of the condition.

ℹ️ About the Product

This characterful ashtray is crafted from coarse chamotte clay, a material valued for its rugged appearance and exceptional durability. The exterior has been intentionally left with a rough lava-like texture, while the interior is finished with a vibrant red-orange glaze displaying beautiful tonal variations. This striking contrast is characteristic of the popular Fat Lava ceramics produced during the 1960s and 1970s.

Featuring five cigarette rests and raised on four small feet, the ashtray sits slightly above the surface. Although originally designed as an ashtray, pieces like this are now often repurposed as decorative catchalls, key trays, or storage dishes for jewellery and other small accessories.

🏺 Maker & History

The underside bears the BJS hallmark. While the exact manufacturer has not yet been identified with certainty, the design closely reflects the Brutalist ceramics and Fat Lava style that flourished throughout Western Europe—particularly in West Germany and the Netherlands—between approximately 1965 and 1975.

✨ Special Features

• Crafted from coarse chamotte clay
• Deep red-orange glazed interior
• Distinctive black lava-textured exterior
• Five integrated cigarette rests
• Raised on four fixed feet
• BJS hallmark on the underside
• Decorative as well as functional
• A perfect fit for Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern, or Space Age interiors
• Also ideal as a catchall tray for keys, jewellery, or other small accessories

📦 Shipping: Dispatched within 1–2 business days as a tracked parcel. Carefully packaged to prevent damage.

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