The origin of the ashtray in Alien?

[Mattias]

So, I bought this vintage ceramic ashtray the other day…

The color of it is light grey. It has very faded markings underneath, that I hardly can get to show up at all in a photo:

This is definitely not 100 % guaranteed, but from what I can tell looking up close under a bright light, it seems like it does say RB, Alcobaça, Made in Portugal. If that is the case, it would have been made by Raul da Bernada of Raul da Bernarda & Filhos, Lda., the oldest crockery factory in Alcobaça, Portugal, founded in 1875.

I've seen mentioned in this old thread where replicas of this ashtray were made, that those replicas were "made from real vintage aluminum parts, exactly like the film".

So what do I have here? An actual vintage original of the ashtray that later was used in or replicated for the movie, or an old ceramic replica someone made after the movie came out? Does anyone actually know for sure the origin of the ashtrays in the movie?

 

[eethan]

The one I have was called a "vintage slim jims ashtray", and yes, they were formed sheet metal. Yours being ceramic nd of the same shape is interesting and it would be difficult to know if they actually used a metal one or a ceramic one

 

[Mattias]

That is indeed interesting... And makes it even weirder. Thanks, will dig deeper.

 

[Mattias]

Here's the backside by the way, showing it's not just the same as the pressed metal one on that side.

 

[joberg]

Here's the backside by the way, showing it's not just the same as the pressed metal one on that side.

View attachment 1898805

Interesting...never saw those but in metal only

 

[Funky]

The one I have was called a "vintage slim jims ashtray", and yes, they were formed sheet metal. Yours being ceramic nd of the same shape is interesting and it would be difficult to know if they actually used a metal one or a ceramic one

The ones I have are also the metal Slim Jim’s. Yours is interesting to say the least. Can someone provide screencaps to show the thickness of the ashtrays?

 

[Bacta]

Wow that is cool find! Wow ceramic! Stunning piece Mattias

I have two metal ashtrays, I have found and bought at antique shops in Michigan. One is crisper than the other.

 

[Mattias]

The ones I have are also the metal Slim Jim’s. Yours is interesting to say the least. Can someone provide screencaps to show the thickness of the ashtrays?

This is the thickness of mine:

 

[Mattias]

I’ve unfortunately never been able to verify any details about this ceramic one, but yesterday I stumbled upon an actual metal one in an antiques store here in Sweden. I think the color is too nice to remove and repaint, though.

 

[joberg]

I’ve unfortunately never been able to verify any details about this ceramic one, but yesterday I stumbled upon an actual metal one in an antiques store here in Sweden. I think the color is too nice to remove and repaint, though.

View attachment 1948948

I have the same exactly

 

[septic]

Very cool / interesting! Can you please take a side-on, side-by-side pic of the two, keen to see the 'thickness' of that top rolled down edge.

 

[Mattias]

Very cool / interesting! Can you please take a side-on, side-by-side pic of the two, keen to see the 'thickness' of that top rolled down edge.

Here you go. The ceramic one is about 4 mm taller/thicker. The metal one stacks perfectly on top of the ceramic one.

 

[septic]

Very nice, thank you. I was wondering if the screen used ashtrays might have actually been the ceramic versions, but without another re-watch, I feel 98% confident that it is the stamped metal ones we see in the movie.

 

[Mattias]

Very nice, thank you. I was wondering if the screen used ashtrays might have actually been the ceramic versions, but without another re-watch, I feel 98% confident that it is the stamped metal ones we see in the movie.

I would say that the ones in the movie are definitely the metal kind. This is the best shot I can find of them, and it does show the less chunky, sharp underside like on the metal one.