Can you provide a photo of the bottom and close-ups of the markings? That would be a big help. Is the tray metal or ceramic? The perimeter of the tray has flutes sized for cigarettes, but it is a big ash tray. At approximately 14: x 10", it could handle a big cigar. Do you know if this tray was intended for use by a sizeable number of smokers such as a hotel lobby or the sitting room jn a men's club?

I recently acquired this chair from a relative that I will refinish to use as a desk chair. I've never seen one quite like it and was just curious to know what style it is. Does anyone have any idea? Thanks!

Your house was built before 1870, but after 1820. It could be called 'Italianate' from its paired windows on the second floor. It could also be called "Folk Victorian" . The length of the windows, the window casings with their small hoods are all early Victorian. The window panes (2/2) are probably renovations from the early 1900's. Its eaves, which extend straight out with no returns back to the main house, are Italianate, or 'Romantic' - a reaction to so many years of 'Colonial' architecture in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. You can see that the builder is still thinking in terms of 'Colonial' symmetry but beginning to use the frills ( bay windows, paired windows, fancier door and window casings) that became so popular in the later Victorian years. The bay windows and the porch make it more likely to have been built closer to the 1850's. Also the newel post in the second slide is made from one log, turned on a lathe - very popular from the late 1830's to the 1860's. However your other stair railing, balusters and the fireplace mantles are the style of the 1830's. I know a similar hand rail (how lovely it is to look at and to feel in the hand!) built by a factory owner in 1838. The iron fence is probably later, early 1870's, as are the spindles (the little turned pieces up next to the roof) on the back porch. See if you can find a copy of Asher Benjamin's pattern book published in 1830 or 1827. He was a very popular architect whose books were copied by local carpenters all over the US. The 1827 and 1830 editions have illustrations very similar to your pictures. Also you might enjoy 'A Field Guide to American Houses' by the McAlesters.

Please don't anyone be offended by this post. I am just laughing so hard I almost can't stand it! I was just shocked at what a sucker plucker is!!!! hahahahahaha lololololololol roflmao oh I have tears in my eyes I am laughing so hard! Sucker Plucker???? OMG I can't believe it! I thought I was going to see a new invention!!!!! lololololol This tool is one of the basic tools used in ceramics. If you have ever cleaned a piece of greenware you have used a cleaning tool now aka "sucker plucker!!!!!! How wonderful that it has been reinvented to be a "sucker plucker". I have been using one of these to "pluck" little things out of tiny places of all kinds for over 40 years!!!!!! They are available at any craft store--Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmarts and just about any other craft store. Pretty cheap also. Really versatile tool!! I am sorry to laugh so long and hard but it was really a jolt to see that little tool now called a sucker plucker!!!!! It just struck me as funny! If you know me in person you would fully understand my humor! Please,,,no offense to anyone! Geeze I am still giggling!!!!! Rosie