Rare Mid-Century Peill & Putzler Heavy Ice Glass Ashtray/Candleholder (1970s, West Germany)

Hand-made, at the beginning of the 1970s in West Germany, this heavy ice glass ashtray is of Brutalist inspiration and is a statement piece to have in your home, regardless whether you use as an ashtray or candleholder. With a sun-like shape and “rays” that radiate on all sides meant to store cigarettes and a deep-cut for cigars, it has plenty of character to fill the room and by all means, it’s one a kind. This sort of Peill & Putzler ashtray it's a rare find, especially since the producer mainly focused on lighting pieces.

Peill und Sohn was founded in 1903 in Düren - a small town in the West of Germany - and was led by Leopold Peill, a philanthropist and glassmaker. The Putzer brothers from Penzig (Pieńsk) - today’s Poland -, were well-established glass producers super known for their kerosene street lighting. In 1947, Peill and the Putzer`s merged and thus established Peill & Putzler Glashüttenwerke, a glasswork and lighting company that by 1950 already owned five glass ovens and employed around 1500 people.

Peill & Putzler transformed lightning manufacturing into an aesthetic yet functional art  form. Through their advancing technologies, vision and craftsmanship, P&P became synonymous with futuristic globular glassworks, creating timeless mid-century designs, ranging from home decor objects to lamps, chandeliers, wall lights and pendants, all looking anything but mundane!

And, as anyone that wants to remain in the design textbooks, P&P worked with some really great designers like Aloys F. Gangkofner (teacher at The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich), Wilhelm Wagenfeld (industrial designer and former student of the Bauhaus Art School, he designed glass and metal works for the Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Gen., Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke in Weißwasser, Rosenthal, Braun GmbH and Metallwarenfabrik Straub & Schweizer), Helmut Demary (who designed the Peill & Putzler logo), Horst Tüselmann or Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg. They all produced limited series objects ranging from flush mount lighting, candleholders, vases to vessels or ashtrays.

Product specifications

Country of manufacture — West Germany

Condition —Excellent — This vintage/antique piece is in near original condition. It may show minimal traces of use.

Restoration and Damage Details — Patina consistent with age and use.

Material — Glass

Size — 8 H x 17 cm Ø