Among the artifacts produced by Richard-Ginori there were also corporate promotional items, such as this porcelain ashtray shaped like a ship and painted in black and red. It is a true gadget of the American Export Lines shipping company of New York, which - from 1919 until its bankruptcy in 1977 - connected the east coast of the United States and the Mediterranean sea, offering cargo and passenger services.
The ashtray had a parallelepiped-shaped base, open on one side to allow the insertion of a cigarette pack, and a special compartment for a box of matches. In the center it featured a cylinder in the shape of a ship funnel pierced at the base. When lit cigarettes were laid on the two recessed rails and inserted into this hole, the rising smoke would disperse passing through the chimney.
The production of artifacts with logos of shipping companies, hotels, restaurants, bars and all kinds of commercial venues is very common in the history of the Manifattura Ginori. Modern examples of ashtrays with the logos of Fiat, Cinzano, Alitalia and other Italian companies are known. They were probably used as gifts for customers or as decorations for offices and mono-brand stores.
The Museo Ginori collection also includes some examples of custom decorations, like the porcelain sets created for the shipping companies Adriatica, Cosulich, Lloyd Triestino, NGI and Italia.
