1950's(?) ceramic coaster-ashtray "sip & smoke"

My younger sister's husband passed away last year, and I am trying to help her go thru some of the stuff he had in his "cave" in the basement. Much of it came from his own parents & has been "packed in" down there for some 25+ years.

(I've been having quite a time convincing my sister how little monetary value there is to much of this stuff!)

Anyway, I know this is not a valuable item, but my sister wants to know where it might be from(?) since the design on it suggests that it might have been a souvenir of some sort.

Again, it's really not that important, but does anyone have a clue?



Thanks for your time!

 

A quick search on eBay shows a few similar. Even with the matching cup they aren't worth much.

Here is an example of a similar, current listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Si...679290?hash=item5474041c3a:g:FfsAAOSwQsZdUL4w

 

Thanks, Wisc. I've seen plenty of them, but I'm just wondering about the "design" on the one I posted.

 

Thanks, INH. I thought about the Alamo, but that tower to the side and the palm trees (?) made me think not - but what do I know???

It could be 100% generic, too.

 

looks like an oasis...

 

That domed thing on the left looks familar. But i can't figure how it relates to the stuff on the right, which looks like mission ruins.

EDIT: I think it might be LAX, which would make the other half one of the California missions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_Building

 

Could the tower be a lighthouse?

 

Thank you ALL for the input! All I can say is maybe yes, maybe yes, and maybe yes - but WHAT are they all doing together on one ugly little piece of ceramic???

If I could fit them all to a single city/town, I think it might make a little more sense...

(And as for LAX & the Theme Building, that would push the dating into the 1960's, but I find that very possible, too!)

Thank you again, everybody!

 

(I've been having quite a time convincing my sister how little monetary value there is to much of this stuff!)

I've found myself in that situation before and it can be awkward and difficult. Especially when the person you are helping is a friend or acquaintance and has it set in their mind that things must have monetary value.

Best of luck. Nice of you to help her.

 

Thanks, Lucille! She needs the support... mostly just someone to say, "It's okay to let some of it go." The problem is that there is so, so much of it!

 

Do you think it's actually for a candle with the "ash" section for spent matches? I only ask because of the picture really.

 

Thanks for the idea, SIS, but I'm pretty sure it's a coaster/ashtray. Some of them even came with cups:


And this one actually pretty much says that it's for a coffee cup:

 

I think I found one much like my sister's, but for Las Vegas. (Las Vegas on left; hers on the right):

It has a MADE IN JAPAN sticker on the back, which is what I figured it was, but it's nice to see proof of that:

 

LOL ok, I drink coffee but don't smoke so I guess "I" might repurpose it as a candle stand

 

Aw, INH, you are so sweet! Thank you!

 

It could also be a generic California state souvenir. Who knows what else was depicted on the cup?

I ran across a photo earlier that looks like the mission/lighthouse bit (what moreotherstuff mentioned upthread):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island_Lighthouse

I usually think "island" when it comes to Alcatraz, not "lighthouse", but....?

More views:
https://www.google.com/search?q=alc...biw=1706&bih=1017#imgrc=x0ROiFHUdMmt0M:&vet=1

 

Thank you, Uncle Chuck! I think you may be on to something there!

I truly appreciate your input - and that of everyone else who has commented.