Antique Brass Bat Ashtray Poche Vide Bradley Hubbard P.E. Guerin THICK & HEAVY For Sale

An antique bronze ashtray, poche vide, pin tray, or dish, in the shape of a bat on wing.   Unmarked, but based on stylistic similarities, it is likely this tray was manufactured by Bradley & Hubbard of Meriden, CT, or P.E. Guerin of New York City during the final quarter of the nineteenth century.  Centered on the reverse of the bat is a plaque cast integral with the tray.  In the center of the plaque is a round plug and above the plug is the word "Compliments", in indistinct raised letters.  When this ashtray was made, a business owner who bought a supply of ashtrays to give to customers would have had the trays cast with his business's name and contact information within this field.  The fact that this field is empty suggests that this particular ashtray might have served as a salesman's sample.  And the fact that this ashtray is thicker then other bat ashtrays of the same design and that it weighs about twice as much as other bat ashtrays might also be considered evidence that this ashtray is one of the rare salesman's samples of such bronze work to have survived to our day.  With a light brown patina.  Unsigned.

Bronze, 4" x 2.5"

Excellent Condition, no flaws or defects; a especially thick and weighty cast with a light brown patina.