Vintage Detroit Tigers figural ashtray

[perezfan]

That's cool, Clint.... thanks for the close-up image. Very detailed and unique!

Is it, by chance hollow at the base of the neck? If so, it could be a Cane-topper... similar to the Jackie Robinson Heads that were made as Carnival Prizes. Really nifty!

[ksfarmboy]

Originally Posted by perezfan

That's cool, Clint.... thanks for the close-up image. Very detailed and unique!

Is it, by chance hollow at the base of the neck? If so, it could be a Cane-topper... similar to the Jackie Robinson Heads that were made as Carnival Prizes. Really nifty!

I don't think it would be a cane topper as my mother had several of those and this is much bigger and heavier. Plus most of those are porcelain and this is chalk. I'm pretty sure it was part of a larger statue.

[sayheykid54]

After purchasing the Figural ashtray I was contacted by another seller on Ebay. He indicated that he actually had a photograph of the ashtray (not the exact same one) in a child's Christmas photo. The photo is dated 1943, so it would have to made prior to that.

I agreed to purchase the photo from him.

[perezfan]

That is too cool! Interesting to see that one has the Bat.

I've sometimes bought early photos of Pennants displayed at people's houses and in the stands at stadiums. Few things as sweet as finding a vintage photo of a piece you own.

[sayheykid54]

I was recently contacted by the grandson of the original sculpture on the Detroit Tigers figural piece. My buyer information was given to him by the seller.

He said that his grandfather was the sculptor of the piece and hand painted them himself. When completed he presented the Detroit Tigers front office with one. They told him to immediately stop making them, he wasn't sure exactly why. Because of that the grandfather said he believed he only made 4 of them.

He was surprised to see it on Ebay in the completed listings.

[perezfan]

Surprising, and that number seems low. I think we've just about accounted for all 4 of them in this thread alone.

Did he say if the Grandfather also sculpted the Pirates version? There is a virtually identical Pirates piece out there, but with a Pirate figural instead of a Tiger.

[sayheykid54]

I can check with him on the Pirates version. Do you have a photo of it?