Stefano Ricci SR Octagon Porcelain Ashtray — Lion / Gold

Stefano Ricci SR Octagon Porcelain Ashtray — Lion / Gold

No animal has a longer history at the center of formal objects than the lion. It appeared on the thrones of Assyrian kings, on the shields of medieval European nobility, on the gates of Renaissance palaces, and on the decorative arts of every tradition that has used animals to signify authority. The reason is consistent: the lion communicates command of a space. Stefano Ricci's Lion Octagon Porcelain Ashtray places that history at the center of the smoking table — an object that is always in view during a session and occupies its position with the authority the subject commands.

The Lion

The Lion motif occupies the porcelain surface with the directness that characterizes Stefano Ricci's treatment of this animal throughout its collection. Gold finishing on the brass cigar rests and decorative accents is the only correct choice for the lion — the pairing of gold and lion is as established in the decorative arts as any combination that exists. On fine porcelain the image arrives with the clarity the material allows.

Octagonal Format / 4 Cigar Rests

At 25 × 25 cm, this ashtray is a table piece — scaled for the center of a smoking surface rather than the corner of a desk. The four brass cigar rests allow four cigars to be held simultaneously, which means the piece is designed for the kind of session that involves company and conversation. The octagonal form gives it a defined perimeter that reads as a deliberate object rather than a utility item; each of the eight sides contributes to a shape that has presence at table scale.

Brass Cigar Rests / Gold Finishing

The four brass cigar rests are finished in gold — consistent with the ashtray's decorative hardware. They hold cigars at the correct angle and elevation across the full length of a session, protecting both the cigar and the porcelain surface below.

Now available at The Tobacconist of Greenwich.