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Vintage 1950s Japanese Skeleton Nodder Ashtray.
Vintage 1950s Ceramic Mechanical Skeleton Nodder Ashtray & Match Holder
Up for sale is a highly collectible and wonderfully macabre piece of mid-century Japanese novelty design. This ceramic Grim Reaper/Skeleton figurine functions as an ashtray, match stick holder, and interactive "nodder." It features an ingenious counterweighted metal wire jaw that jiggles, chimes, and "nods" freely at the slightest touch.
Origin: Made in Japan (Stamped on base with vintage inventory handwriting)
Era: Circa 1950s
Material: Cold-painted glazed ceramic
Dimensions: Approximately 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"x 2 ¼”
Condition Details:
This piece is in Very Good Vintage Condition with zero chips, cracks, or post-production fractures anywhere along the fragile rim, basin, or back.
Mechanism: The original mechanical wire jaw is fully intact and swings completely freely, though it rests slightly off-center (typical of these hand-assembled vintage novelty pieces).
Manufacturing Characteristics: Features its original factory slip-cast mold line that runs continuously from the base up the sides and into the basin—this is a natural manufacturing mark from production, not a crack.
Wear: Displays beautiful, authentic age with light paint wear inside the red basin and expected minor shelf-scuffing on the unglazed bottom base.
A fantastic crossover piece for collectors of vintage Halloween, mid-century tobacciana, or Japanese novelty kitsch!
Item will be packed with professional care using heavy bubble wrap to ensure safe transit.
