Millersburg Cleveland Memorial Marigold Souvenir Ashtray "Grover"

This particular ashtray has been fondly nick-named "Grover", after Grover Cleveland, which makes it easier to refer to him to my friends. He has more friends than I do at this point!

This marigold Millersburg ashtray is steeped in Cleveland, Ohio's rich history. It is said this commemorates Cleveland's centennial, founded in 1776, featuring five of its architectural wonders of that time. These are depicted in the finest details within the four corners and center section as framed scenes. These close-up pictures I've included of each setting are seldom seen by collectors because the detail in most photos are vague due to the tiny original size of this ashtray.

They are shown, in order, as follows:

Center Scene: Garfield's Tomb

Top: Garfield Statue

Right: Soldier's & Sailor's Monument

Bottom: Superior Viaducts

Left: Chamber of Commerce.

As you can see, the detail is amazing. These ashtrays were only made in purple and marigold. There's only a handful of these marigold versions known and less than a dozen found in purple. You'll see how dramatically different a dark background will make the iridescence come alive in the last photos.

You may notice underneath its round collar foot elevates it slightly and how all four corners are curved up for easy gripping, much like spoon rests are designed. They're very dainty and delicate. It's no wonder why they're so scarce, especially if they had actually been used as ashtrays. Judging from its wonderful condition, I'm certain someone cherished this one as a souvenir and perhaps used it as a ring holder on their dresser or vanity for the past century.

People can only speculate why these were made and for whom they were made for because very few of these exist today. Perhaps they were given away or maybe sold. Well, one thing is for sure, they don't give them away today, although I really can't say that with accuracy. I purchased this particular ashtray during a Mickey Reichel auction in Boonville, Missouri and paid well for it. I wasn't at the auction at the time but it was broadcasted live. By texting a acquaintance on his cell phone from my office in New Hampshire, I asked if he would bid on this piece and he said he would. A few seconds later he had it bought. It was a very exciting ride! We all came up with the name "Grover" on the spot during some fun banter we shared on the "live chat".

Mickey tells me it was found by a picker at a thrift shop in Oklahoma State for less than an Andrew Jackson. The picker just knew it was a nice piece of Carnival glass and the price was right but he didn't know just how rare it was at the moment he purchased it. It's the find we all dream about. I'm sure glad he did!

These souvenir ashtrays are a wonderful piece of Millersburg Glass and an equally wonderful detailed documentation of Cleveland's history. If you ever see one, don't pass up the chance to own it. You'll be glad you did.

As a special item of interest, one of our readers from Millersburg, Ohio, sent me a photo of a replica of this ashtray made of copper. He found it on eBay about five years ago and bought it from a seller who lived in Wooster, Ohio, not far from where he lives. It's flat, and not footed, like the glass version and he tells me it's thin and very light in weight. There's a company logo in the back just like this:

THE GEO. H. BOWMAN COMPANY

CLEVELAND AND NEW YORK

The question is, was this copper ashtray created before or after the glass version?  Well, the Geo. H. Bowman Company was located in Cleveland, Ohio. Their logos can be found on several products, such as these Bavarian porcelain plates, used between 1912 and 1917. Research shows the Bowman Company filed for their business name on Octorber 28, 1907 and went out of business on January 22, 1932.

Millersburg Glass was in production from 1909 to 1911, for just.a very short period. These years are within the parameters of the Bowman Company's years of operation.

The Millersburg glass ashtrays are very scarce. Perhaps those ashtrays were in popular demand in the day, enough to be reproduced after the demise of the Millersburg Glass factory. Could the mould, used for their glass ashtrays, be utilized to make this copper version as well? Also, has anyone else ever seen another copper version? Perhaps it is time to ask an ashtray collector.

The Christina Katsikas Collection