Gitanes International – France 1960s

This large square ashtray was produced as an advertising item for the French cigarette brand Gitanes. The bold blue color, the white lettering “GITANES INTERNATIONALES,” and the characteristic silhouette of the Gitanes figure make it a striking piece of French advertising and bistro culture.

The unusual shape, with its surfaces sloping steeply inward and a raised central island, gives the ashtray an almost architectural design. The well-known Gitanes motif is located on the central island, standing out clearly against the deep blue, glossy glazed background.

Such advertising ashtrays were part of the typical decor of French cafés, bars, and tabacs, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. The ashtray was manufactured in France by the long-established ceramics factory Moulin des Loups in Orchies. The manufacturer's mark with the characteristic windmill motif as well as the model number 878.28.09 can be found on the underside. The factory was particularly known for its functional ceramics and numerous advertising objects for the French catering industry.

• Period: 1950s–1960s
• Origin: France
• Manufacturer: Moulin des Loups
  
• Material: glazed ceramic
• Dimensions: approx. 21 × 21 × 4 cm
• Weight: approx. 640 g
• Quantity: 1 piece
  

This is an old functional object with corresponding signs of age and use.

An expressive piece of French café and advertising culture with the unmistakable graphic design of Gitanes.