Antique Copper Ashtray / Printing Plate of Rev. Edmund Squire, Boston painted lacquer box with an opening of 4"

with an opening of 4" across at lip and 3 3/4" diameter at base

I found her at a wonderful estate sale chock full of mid-century and contemporary ceramics

(And this one came loaded with a full sets of parts

and just a fabulous object to have around

3" tall x 2

Antique Copper Ashtray / Printing Plate of Rev. Edmund Squire, Boston painted lacquer box with an opening of 4"This is one of the most curious ashtrays I have encountered, with a very interesting history! Made of copper, at its center is the inscribed name backwards of "Rev. Edmund Squire." A bit of research informs me that Squire was the founder of the Pilgrim Church in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, who, on Nov. 2, 1862the second year of the Civil Warconvened 16 people at his Dorchester home to unite themselves into what they called an unsectarian Church