Heavily Patinated (Much Used!) Walter Bosse for Herta Baller 1950s Brass "Hand" Ashtray calf weaner 5 7/8" across at handle

5 7/8" across at handle

There are a series of X's carved lightly into the exterior near the top on one side

with half the young women in school uniforms and the other half in kimono

and hand-sewn needle book/pin keep all at once

and I believe '04 for 2004

Heavily Patinated (Much Used!) Walter Bosse for Herta Baller 1950s Brass "Hand" Ashtray calf weaner 5 7/8" across at handleI happened upon this one digging around in Maine this week an iconic brass 'hand' ashtray designed by Walter Bosse and produced by Herta Baller, Austria, c. 1950 Terrific form all the way around, with the pinched thumb and forefinger meant to evoke the holding of a cigarette and this particular ashtray was clearly very much used as such, with lots of blackening to the bowl. I have wiped it well with a damp cloth, but not attempted to clean or polish