The art of ashtrays crafted from red-hot lava - Mount Etna, Sicily

[u/Zealousideal-Gap-963]

[u/9outof10timesWrong]

Non smoker here, but wouldn't that thing be impossible to clean because it's so pourous?

[u/m_addams → u/9outof10timesWrong]

I’ve seen some smokers not even clean the glass ones so no problem there. Guess they like the smell

[u/Tomsboll → u/m_addams]

Former smoker here, yhea, you just empty it out. No point of a deep clean really. Its not like the ash can go rank or something, and the first ciggy after the wash just undo the cleaning anyway.

[u/Agitated_Occasion_52 → u/Tomsboll]

The ash might not go rank. However it just builds up and stanks way more than if it were deep cleaned.

[u/cuteintern → u/Agitated_Occasion_52]

Stale/old ash smell is awful. Occasional deep cleans are well worth the effort.

[u/FrighteningJibber → u/cuteintern]

You don’t enjoy the dank aroma of a bowling alley circa summer of 2006?

[u/ParkingTiny6301 → u/m_addams]

I feel personally attacked rn 

[u/Downtown_Finance_661 → u/ParkingTiny6301]

It was intentional shot. But he aimed at self-respect, not in the arse.

[u/biglinuxfan → u/Downtown_Finance_661]

What if my self respect is in my arse?

[u/actinross → u/biglinuxfan]

That's deep... enough...

[u/Protahgonist → u/[deleted]]

Nah, that club closed. Too bad too because that place was amazing.

[u/kosmokramr → u/biglinuxfan]

You’re supposed to keep your dignity in there not your self respect

[u/WileyWilly1985 → u/kosmokramr]

So that is why letting a group of guys run a train on me resulted in me losing my dignity???

[u/ISwearImAnonymous → u/WileyWilly1985]

stares quietly for a while

No yeah I'd say that's.. yep

[u/Jeez-essFC → u/WileyWilly1985]

No, no, no...if you had dignity, the train wouldn't have run. You were just using them to fill a void.

[u/bju83 → u/kosmokramr]

But my father told me thats where my brain is

[u/staykindasick → u/bju83]

My father told me that’s where this watch came from.

[u/bju83 → u/staykindasick]

Mine too, but also Christopher Walken’s

[u/Desalvo23 → u/bju83]

2 watches? Thats a lot of time..

[u/ZookeepergameNo9572 → u/Downtown_Finance_661]

Damn bro okay I'll clean my ashtray

[u/el_volko → u/ParkingTiny6301]

Thats your heart, which tells you to stop smoking

[u/I_Dnt_Believe_You → u/ParkingTiny6301]

It's called patina. It adds value.

Edit: Spelling.

[u/ExciteableMiqote → u/I_Dnt_Believe_You]

Patina*

[u/Timetraveller4k → u/m_addams]

Hmm ..

I have a John Varvatos perfume that I liked from the sample. It had something special. I bought it and used it.

Reviews later had people talking about a smoke smell. I don’t smoke but my dad did.

I guess thats what I missed.

[u/Same-Suggestion-1936 → u/Timetraveller4k]

Some non-smokers like the smell for some reason. I worked with a woman who would hang out with my on smoke breaks because she liked it. She was happily married with kids so it definitely wasn't just a lie to spend time with me.

When I was a kid I hated the smell of cigarettes but I loved the smell of cigars

[u/TilTheLastPetalFalls → u/m_addams]

When I used to smoke, I knew I'd never clean an ashtray and did not want that smell, so I'd just use a disposable bottle half filled with water, reseal it between uses. Once I'd used it for about a week, binned the contents, recycled the bottle, and started a new one.

I do not miss having to do this to facilitate the habit, lmao.

[u/Kahnza → u/TilTheLastPetalFalls]

I did something similar way back when I smoked. That is until one day I knocked over my watery butt can and spilled the juice all over my carpet. 🤮

[u/TilTheLastPetalFalls → u/Kahnza]

A can?! A can?! Like come on, dude, you practically asked that toxic tobacco juice to give your carpet a bath! Resealing the bottle was a very important step in my process for a reason 😭

[u/Spare-Half796 → u/TilTheLastPetalFalls]

I knew someone who did that until they accidentally drank from their ash bottle, to this day the only thing they say is worse than when they accidentally drank from a mud can

[u/McFlurrage → u/TilTheLastPetalFalls]

That sounds a lot worse than having an ashy ashtray.

[u/NuclearReactions → u/m_addams]

Unless you smoke one cigarette a day or something like that it's completely useless and will smell exactly the same after a day.

[u/Palorrian → u/m_addams]

as a smoker, we dont sense that smell.

[u/s3v3red_cnc → u/m_addams]

Ex-smoker here. Can't smell it when your lungs are full of it everyday.

After quitting I'm not quite sure how I ever dealt with it.

[u/ChemistryQuirky2215 → u/m_addams]

Ey now, once a decade counts as cleaning!

[u/mratlas666 → u/m_addams]

I use to fill coffee cans. Then throw them out when they got full.

[u/VealOfFortune → u/9outof10timesWrong]

Not just that, but rough/sharp as fuuuuuck.

[u/The_Autarch → u/VealOfFortune]

wouldn't be surprised if they do more work on them back at their shop.

[u/Andromeda321 → u/VealOfFortune]

A few years ago when there was a volcano in Iceland we hiked out to see it and grabbed a few souvenir rocks from the outflow that were no more than weeks old. What struck me was how SHARP the rocks are- they’d never been eroded!

[u/VealOfFortune → u/Andromeda321]

Funny you say that, was there 2 weeks ago, went to Katla WND saw the Lava Show 🫡

[u/Newme91 → u/VealOfFortune]

They could be sanded down

[u/PlayfulSurprise5237 → u/Newme91]

Yea I mean they're cool either way, in the rough or sanded down.

The main draw is that it's forged in the fires of Mt. Doom

[u/Justalittletoserious → u/9outof10timesWrong]

It's a pain to do but It's possible, you Just soak It in soapy water and then use an hard brush to scrub ashes and dust, then you Just let It dry.

I live near the Etna, the real pain Is when volcanic sand lands in my balcony (it's a pain to clean it) and clogs all the roof drains

[u/BobTheFettt → u/9outof10timesWrong]

You think smokers clean their ashtrays?

[u/Hot-Challenge8656 → u/BobTheFettt]

They just throw it in the nearest volcano and mould another one.

[u/Acceptable-Bus-2017 → u/Hot-Challenge8656]

At least they're recycling

[u/Deathcounter0 → u/Hot-Challenge8656]

Exactly, where else do you guys think the vulcanic ash comes from?

[u/BobTheFettt → u/[deleted]]

You used a straw?

[u/Significant-Dirt-977 → u/[deleted]]

Same, every other day i wash my trays with soap. I live in a humid area and ash soak all that water from the air, becomes slightly wet and starts to stink

[u/Mowgli_78 → u/9outof10timesWrong]

Back before I quit I was given one of these same ashtrays by a Sicilian coworker. It was the worst ashtray I ever had in every way

[u/BigBankHank → u/Mowgli_78]

I believe it. Do they prepare the bottom in some way to keep it from scratching the holy crap out of your coffee table?

[u/Mowgli_78 → u/BigBankHank]

The bottom was perfectly flat but everything else was sharp. It was impossible to clean and even sometimes made tiny cuts at the paper of the cigarretes. Plus it was really ugly. The "Etna" letters you see at the bottom were painted in red.

[u/kulot09 → u/9outof10timesWrong]

Maybe they’ll seal it after? I hope that’s the case

[u/taintosaurus_rex → u/9outof10timesWrong]

I am a delivery driver. It is not all that uncommon for smokers to leave a bucket on the front porch full of cigarette butts. You can smell the wet cigarette smell from like 50 feet away. I also have houses that just throw them in the yard and their front yard is just carpeted with years of cigarettes. I don't think being clean with their trash is a value many smokers have.

[u/TerrorFromThePeeps → u/9outof10timesWrong]

The bigger probably is the total lack of little cigarette rest divots. Ffs, who makes an ashtray without those?

[u/Downtown-Security-11 → u/9outof10timesWrong]

This is a novelty item that other people will get for people they know that smoke. No smoker is buying this for themselves

[u/ceadagamdulamach → u/Downtown-Security-11]

Ah yes, smokers, the cleanest of humans. Sparkling ashtrays all round.

[u/LaughingJackStudio → u/ceadagamdulamach]

Yea there's an empty beer can over there

[u/FrancisWolfgang → u/9outof10timesWrong]

Yeah but kind of rad for like a key bowl by the door

[u/low-ki199999 → u/9outof10timesWrong]

I think the bigger problem would be that you can’t rest or tap a cigarette/joint on that, it’s so spikey it would rip the paper immediately on whatever you are smoking

[u/steveweber314 → u/low-ki199999]

this looks more like a dish to put your keys in than an ashtray. every ashtray has grooves around the edges for that exact reason

[u/mjmac85 → u/9outof10timesWrong]

As a former cigarette smoker I don’t remember buying anything fancy for an ashtray. An ashtray is also not a souvenir item I’d buy myself.

This is also the kind of thing you use as a dump tray when you walk in the door. Empty your pockets into a vacation souvenir or hold some items on a desk/table. More of a souvenir shallow bowl at that point.

[u/Ryggys]

Looks terrible but other than that it's awful

[u/Affectionate_Oven_77 → u/Ryggys]

Yes sure, but other than that it’s probably expensive.

[u/Tweetleburger → u/Affectionate_Oven_77]

I've been to Etna a few weeks ago. They sell them for like 4 euros a piece

[u/StikElLoco → u/Tweetleburger]

That's pretty good, I don't even smoke but it'd be interesting to have

[u/TruculentBucket → u/Ryggys]

Sucks ass to look at, low effort to make. I thought they would at least sand it down and seal it or something.

Edit: The low effort part is the fact that most people in this sub could go out and do what they’re doing. There is no craftsmanship or artisan skill on display. It’s almost sad, they’ve gone all that way and have the chance to do something cool. Nope, ashtrays made of dirty dogshit it is.

[u/Taborask → u/TruculentBucket]

To be fair, they may still sand it down. We don't know what they do after this and it's not like they'd haul sanding and finishing equipment up the mountain

[u/CaptainCipher → u/TruculentBucket]

I'm not sure I'd call going to a volcano and harvesting molten rock "low effort "

[u/Chronic_In_somnia → u/CaptainCipher]

Yeah it’s too much danger for something that bland 

[u/Illeazar → u/Chronic_In_somnia]

Agreed. Like, they already did all the work of going to a volcano and getting lava. Why not put in just a small bit of effort I to making the thing look good and be not terrible?

[u/frguba → u/[deleted]]

But... That's exactly what stuff out of volcanoes look like

[u/Red8937 → u/[deleted]]

Do you think you might be missing the point?

Why get volcanic rock if you want it to look like something else?

[u/Yung_Bill_98 → u/Red8937]

I have volcanic rocks. They look cool. These ashtrays look like dog shit

[u/Shapoopi_1892 → u/CaptainCipher]

The low effort isnt in the preparation, its in the execution.

They can mold that lava into any shape/design they could think of, the options are almost limitless. But instead of making something nice looking and functional they went with the easiest way to mass produce ugly.

That's were the low effort comes in.

[u/DigNitty → u/Shapoopi_1892]

The opposite of r/ATBGE

The idea has potential but the execution is bleh

[u/IDontLikeCherryTomat → u/DigNitty]

The subs are r/ATBGE and r/GTBAE

You and the person who replied are both missing the B

[u/Tony_in2026 → u/CaptainCipher]

If you live near Mount Etna it’s not that hard. There are roads that go up there. It’s crawling with tourists all the time.

[u/That_wet_vaporeon → u/CaptainCipher]

I mean anyone can go to one of these. It’s actually not that hard if you can walk..tourists go to these all the time.

Theres barely any shaping or crafting. That’s why people are saying it’s low effort

[u/Mean_Mix_99 → u/CaptainCipher]

It take's 1 minute for 2 people to make it. That's like the definition of low effort

[u/Quixotic_Seal → u/TruculentBucket]

“Art” of making ash trays from Mt Etna

Looks inside

It’s literally just some dudes putting it in a mold and stamping it.

[u/A7xWicked → u/Quixotic_Seal]

I did a minute or so google search and found that there are mount etna ashtrays made this way from at least 1923..

So even if it's a grift, at least it's a traditional one?

[u/ThrownAway17Years → u/TruculentBucket]

I have no idea about the full process, but couldn’t they seal it afterwards when they’re not on the active volcano?

[u/Superlolz → u/TruculentBucket]

looks rough on the side of the volcano and i wasn't expecting a final product right there but there needs to be a better video of the finished product to properly judge

[u/Natedude2002 → u/TruculentBucket]

My gf loves geology and rocks, and I showed this to her and she loved it.

[u/DrSpacepants → u/TruculentBucket]

Ya, italy usually specializes in stuff that functions poorly but al least looks good.

[u/8Dyl8 → u/DrSpacepants]

I don’t know. Look at Fiat. Functions poorly AND is ugly. If Ralph Wigum from the Simpsons was a car, it’d be a Fiat 500.

[u/Xen235 → u/Ryggys]

Magma traveling slowly by convection for millions of years through the asthenosphere and finally resurfacing to be immediately turned into an ashtray...

[u/ButtonJoe → u/Xen235]

Honestly a waste of such a cool material

[u/stidf → u/Ryggys]

How is this not top comment. It's both awful, looks bad, is dangerous for the workers who make it, functions poorly. Just on so many levels, why.

[u/Tony_in2026 → u/stidf]

I think because for those people it’s RIGHT THERE and is a low overhead way to make a living selling shit to tourists. You only need a mop handle and that stamp you probably make one and use for decades and the rest of the materials are freely flowing out of the ground.

[u/RelentlessIVS]

I hate to say it, but I find this to be extremely ugly.

[u/gazm2k5 → u/RelentlessIVS]

I'm surprised anyone is saying they like it or want one. It looks like something you'd pull out of a clogged drain.

[u/TheWeli → u/gazm2k5]

Looks like its made of asphalt, ugly as hell.

[u/Pucketz → u/gazm2k5]

I mean its konda neat but I wouldn't buy one

[u/RichardBixon → u/gazm2k5]

I don’t understand why they don’t take the extra few seconds to get the hot lava flush against the mold. I think it would make the tray look a lot better and it wouldn’t have all those jagged pieces sticking out. 

[u/lonewanderer21 → u/RichardBixon]

The jagged pieces are the point. It makes it look like it's still lava.

[u/RichardBixon → u/lonewanderer21]

Okay then I disagree with the design choice because it looks like shit. 

Any normal person isn’t going to see a jagged rock Ashe tray and think “is that made from lava?” They will just think it’s made from a rock and you’ll have to tell them is lava.  So same out come either way. 

Edit: u/PlayfulSurprise5237 made a good point. They probably take them back to their shop and sand them down before selling them. 

[u/RichardBixon → u/[deleted]]

I get your point. I have candy wrappers with chainsaw man artwork on them from my trip to Japan. My girlfriend has asked me a couple times if I wanted to throw them out and I say no every time. I just keep them on my computer desk to be reminded of the trip. 

I’m sure the horseshoe isn’t that bad. 

[u/seasideslide → u/RichardBixon]

You could frame those wrappers, that way they stay protected and you can't toss them away because they are art now! Thrift stores have so many frames! :)

[u/FredericaMerriville → u/RelentlessIVS]

It is pretty ugly, but as a geologist, I’d probably want one for the novelty value.

N.B. Not a smoker and hate the smell of cigarettes. 🫠

[u/Hot-Challenge8656 → u/FredericaMerriville]

I'd like a ball or a duck like the ones they make with the moulds for snowballs.

[u/mcCola5 → u/FredericaMerriville]

Could always use it for your pennies.

[u/MericArda → u/RelentlessIVS]

Some people just like the look of steel wool. It’s me, I like the look of steel wool.

[u/Almost-Nice]

That sheet aint art, that's a vague and cheap way of making money out of a volcano 🤣

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205 → u/Almost-Nice]

It's also not an ashtray because there are no little divots to rest your cigarette on/in.

[u/Lumpy_Benefit666 → u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205]

I never really needed those divots, the ciggy (or joint) still rests ok in it

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205 → u/Lumpy_Benefit666]

The burning part is not supposed to rest on the bottom, but instead be held in the air by the divot.

[u/Lumpy_Benefit666 → u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205]

Yeah i understand the idea of the divot, im just saying i never really see a difference if theres no divot.

In fact, i often put the lit end of the joint (quit cigs 2 years ago) against the cold bottom of the ashtray so it puts it out quicker and wastes less of it, ready for when i next pick it up in 5 mins or so.

I cant imagine this volcanic rock will draw too much heat away though tbf. Even so, i still wouldnt really care about the missing divots. Theyre only important when the base of the ashtray is made of plastic so would melt under the heat of the ember. Just my opinion though, i know a lot of people like the divot.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205 → u/Lumpy_Benefit666]

Even so, i still wouldnt really care about the missing divots. Theyre only important when the base of the ashtray is made of plastic so would melt under the heat of the ember.

That's because you're not a cigarette smoker anymore. One of the single most annoying smells is a burning cigarette resting on another cigarette you already put out and it starts burning its filter.

[u/SodenHack69 → u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205]

Holy fuck i forgot how bad burning filters smell since i quit cigs

[u/OldDogTrainer → u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205]

“One of the most annoying smells is a burning cigarette”

Could have just stopped there.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205 → u/OldDogTrainer]

Agreed, but when you add in that it's burning a filter that it's resting on, it truly is a full tier worse.

[u/FyouinyourA → u/OldDogTrainer]

Or no because that’s not the point he was making…? I actually like the smell of cigs. A burning filter is not the same smell and evidently you aren’t aware.

[u/scratchy_mcballsy → u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205]

It’s made of ash, so it literally is an ash tray

[u/V-ZoD → u/Almost-Nice]

Indeed

[u/finger_licking_robot → u/V-ZoD]

the art of making money. so, it is art in a way

[u/steelheaddan → u/Almost-Nice]

I really wonder why they don’t press like a half donut with cutouts for smokes along with that flat press. I also wonder how it would look if they did that, if it would make the final product smoother.

I’m thinking like a 2 piece cast that is clamped and then allowed to cool under pressure. Would it make it glass like or just less bumpy? I don’t know why but the final product bothers me wondering if just a little more work would make the end product look 100x better. But I will never know dammit lol.

[u/OrigamiMarie → u/steelheaddan]

Same here, I was expecting it to be smoothed on the top. I guess this has that organic lava crust texture, but my goodness are these things ugly.

[u/Desperate-Fondant-41 → u/Almost-Nice]

For sale outside the airport 30$

[u/sensory → u/Desperate-Fondant-41]

No way. At least 60.

[u/reysharks → u/Almost-Nice]

still better than "made in china" souvenirs.

[u/dirtycheezit → u/reysharks]

Absolutely true. I don't smoke, but I'd buy one of these before I waste money on some plastic knick knack from China.

[u/RageAgainstMSTeams]

Imagine finding a safe spot to gather lava like that and then making ugly ass ashtrays with lowest of effort.

[u/hydroxy → u/RageAgainstMSTeams]

I’d not consider this safe as they’re breathing in volcanic fumes which are toxic af.

[u/PleaseAndThankYou51 → u/hydroxy]

One of those guys is wearing a flimsy scarf on his face. You didn't notice?

[u/effortfulcrumload]

For the risk and work they could be making so many things that are way cooler. I'd love planters made out of lava rock or even a mold of mnt Etna as a tourist trinket.

[u/Te000 → u/effortfulcrumload]

Doesn't look like they wanted to put in too much effort into this

[u/effortfulcrumload → u/Te000]

They climb up to hot lava with metal gear and a bucket of water. A tiny bit of effort in a different mold instead of that iron stamp

[u/Te000 → u/effortfulcrumload]

If they used a different stamp that also shapes the edge and created creases for cigarettes to rest on, nobody would complain

[u/Tony_in2026 → u/effortfulcrumload]

Nobody’s getting on an airplane with a rock planter

[u/effortfulcrumload → u/Tony_in2026]

You don't know me

[u/King-Calovich11 → u/effortfulcrumload]

I came here to say this. “You guys are farming literal lava, yet you’re crafted good is….an ashtray? “

[u/Academic-Increase951 → u/effortfulcrumload]

You could use it as a small planter, put a bonsai or a cactus that doesn't need deep soil. You don't HAVE to use it for the purpose listed in the title

[u/Gods_ShadowMTG]

"crafted"

[u/simonjexter → u/Gods_ShadowMTG]

“Art”

[u/DueDefinition6421 → u/simonjexter]

Nature 🤝 humans

[u/m1ndbl0wn → u/simonjexter]

Not-art from the Earth's fart

[u/Enders-game → u/Gods_ShadowMTG]

Hey... they have their company stamped on it and everything. It's even... vaguely circular. What more do you want?

[u/karl1717 → u/Enders-game]

They stamp Etna, the name of the volcano

[u/facts_over_fiction92 → u/Enders-game]

The indentations to keep your smoke from rolling off the edge and burning your house down would be a small but nice touch.

[u/Illustrious_Donkey61]

I'd want the little dips to rest the ciggie on

[u/perldawg → u/Illustrious_Donkey61]

best we can do is sharp edges all around

[u/A-H1N1 → u/perldawg]

I'm also looking for absolutely fucking impossible to clean, do you have anything in that direction?

[u/osktox → u/Illustrious_Donkey61]

I was expecting them to press down a top on it but no.

[u/ImaginaryAlpaca → u/osktox]

I figured they were going to add notches, and kept thinking that until the video ended. Without the notches it's not an ashtray, it's just an ugly bowl.

[u/JamesBondMargarita]

Liquid hot mag-mah

[u/Limp-Blueberry-2507]

I found them for sale online. Apparently they go for upwards of $130 each. It seems like it takes less than a minute to make one. I need to find a new job lol

[u/Zealousideal-Gap-963 → u/Limp-Blueberry-2507]

$130 each? 😂 At €2 to €5 each, I think your new career plan may need a little more research.

[u/Beibzi → u/Limp-Blueberry-2507]

Apart from the scortching heat, there's also those gases, you think they are safe to breathe in long term? This is a risky and bad for their health thing they are doing.

[u/QuantityActive-]

Looks pretty shit, to be honest. Fuck paying for that novelty.

[u/Shiny_Greenfish]

Rather ugly ashtrays.

[u/UglyYinzer]

Is there anywhere i can travel, where i can see and poke lava (with a stick) ? Always wanted to poke real lava.

[u/DonCenote → u/UglyYinzer]

Volcano

[u/Neckbreaker70]

Ashtrays are curios, but a molcajete would have my attention.

[u/SpacializedFig_4037 → u/Neckbreaker70]

Ok I had to scroll way to far to find the person who knows what a molcajete is

[u/sindoku]

This is so bad for the environment, erupting a volcano just for ash trays???

[u/tryyeezus → u/sindoku]

Nothing like risking your life to help people die faster! 

[u/MrMansaMusa]

Ngl this looks awful and as a smoker that would be hell to clean and just use in general.

[u/FlorianTheLynx]

45 years on, I now understand what that ashtray was my parents had when I was a kid. 

[u/BreakfastSpecials]

That was underwhelming. I thought it was gonna look so much cooler.

[u/Elegant_Situation285]

"art" and "crafted" are doing a lot of heavy lifting.

[u/MinekraftMastr1]

Is this how you get pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

[u/Automatic-Pick-2481]

Cool and all but looks like it’s made out of shit so that’s a no from me dog

[u/Batman_Night]

Cool method. Shit result.

[u/APartyInMyPants]

“Art?”

I guess art is subjective. But there’s literally no artistry happening here. Hunk of lava. A mold. A buttplug with a stamp at the end.

[u/Zealousideal-Gap-963]

I’ve read dozens of comments saying these ashtrays are ugly, porous, badly made, cheap, “not art”, or simply “shit”.

Some of you are judging an object without knowing anything about the material, the place, or the tradition behind it.

This is lava from Etna. Fresh volcanic material is rough, irregular and full of vesicles created by gases inside the lava. That surface is part of the material itself. People living around Etna have worked volcanic stone and volcanic materials for generations. The object in the video comes from that relationship between the people here and the volcano.

Nobody is asking you to put one in your living room. Nobody cares whether you personally think it is beautiful. Taste is personal.

What bothers me is the complete lack of respect in comments like “looks like shit”, “garbage”, “zero art”, “mass produced crap”.

You are watching people handle incandescent material taken directly from a volcanic flow and shape it by hand while it is still workable. Some of you watched that and decided the most intelligent contribution you could make was to insult the finished object.

Learn where something comes from before shitting on it.

Culture and local traditions deserve a minimum amount of respect even when you find the result ugly. I might visit your country and think one of your traditional objects looks ridiculous. Walking into your community and calling it “shit” without knowing anything about its history would still make me an ignorant asshole.

It is the same kind of disrespect as walking up to somebody’s house and pissing on their front door, or treating their flag like toilet paper, then acting surprised when they take offence.

You do not have to like these ashtrays.

You can simply have enough manners to understand that your personal taste does not erase the history of the people who made them.

[u/Loker22]

Hi, sicilian guy here.
Everyone moking those handmade ashtrays is just being disrespectful of an old tradition that is not even well documented.
The first documented ashtray is from 1971 .
But there are some ashtrays that could date back to 1923. That would make this art more than a century years old art.

There are different types of ashtrays that are treated in different places but it's not the same thing.
Part of the charming of these is that they were made immediately in the place were the lava was flowing.
And modelling the lava isn't an easy job since it tends to cool down very fast.

Also what a lot of you wanted is a refined piece that would lost his particular design and wouldn't be unique anymore since one piece would be axactly the same to another. A mass production without any difference.
Those ashtrays instead have an unique design one from another, and the real beauty of them is to look at them closely, touching them knowing that they were made in a 3000km mountain just out of 1000°C+ flowing lava.

In summer its pretty hot in here just standing under the sun. Imagine doing all of that near a 1000°C+ lava.

So stop being disrespectful of stuff you all don't know. It's a tradition. If you don't like it it's fine, nobody is forcing you to buy it. But talking shit about traditions of my land is something i can't pass by quitely.

[u/ProfessionalKey669]

Art?

[u/TheSquirrelWithin]

Fugly as fug

[u/fernandoman121]

I don’t smoke but I’d totally buy an ashtray made of volcanic rock

[u/No-Pool-432]

I would buy. Looks cool and seems like its origin story is more exciting than mass produced in a factory somewhere

[u/Chemical_Grape_2150]

As a glassblower I’ve always wanted to play with hot lava, after seeing this I’m not sure what I was thinking

[u/Rough_Journey]

Not only they look unpleasing, they have to craft one of the lamest things in the world, a fukim ashtray out of all things.

[u/CampaignCurrent2912]

I feel like we're really stretching the use of the word "art" in this context. This is a simple manufacturing process. Putting a material in a mould and stamping it. There is no skill here.

[u/swagtastic3]

But they look like shit?

[u/gizzardwizard93]

Looks like utter rubbish, impractical and ugly, but somebody will buy it for the novelty. Smart business model considering how low-effort it is.

[u/coffee_ape]

Damn, that’s interesting that would pay for that trash. I’ll take a soda can any day over spending money on that.

[u/Superb_End_2148]

So its dangerous, hard, menial work AND they look like ass? Where do i sign?

[u/mastercafe7]

Really testing the limits of the descriptor "art " here. 

[u/MaxIsTwitching]

Lava ash trays are sooooo hot right now

[u/Key_Composer95]

Just put a stamp on anything and suddenly it's a product

[u/LordOfDustAndBones]

It needs a few divots for the joint to rest...

[u/Greathorn]

gotta respect the hustle, they’re literally just gouging an indent in some hot lava and marketing it to smokers bc everyone knows they’re all about corny accessories

[u/BS-Calrissian]

looks ass

[u/ThisIsATracka]

Cool process, but product looks like shit 

[u/Viciuniversum → u/[deleted]]

Anything can be a dildo if you’re brave enough. 

[u/thetundratorcher → u/Viciuniversum]

Except croissonts, not only it doesn’t do the job but it also makes a fucking mess.

[u/GetOffMyGrassBrats]

Kind of neat, but the final product literally looks like a steaming pile of shit.

[u/ArcheopteryxRex]

I see nothing artistic about this.

[u/33Yalkin33]

Where is the art? Is it behind this post?

[u/Next_Drama1717]

Those volcanic fumes are so toxic.

[u/ThatsUh_dam_shame69]

Yaaaa these are hideous, even if I were a smoker