brschoppe Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 I am like everyone else...the more I see them here...the more I want one. It would be ironic to find out that they were made in China or Mexico. If the marble is not domestic, is the the production domestic? If not, I wonder who the supplier is and if our host could order some directly? I am sure digging through the Cuban supply chain is a futile process.
Ryan Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Although everyone mentions marble, some of the Hotel Nacional ashstrays appear to be granite rather than marble, based on the photographs. Both being natural stones Good point. I need to have a close look at mine. What's the easiest way to tell the difference, little crystals in the stone? They are generally highly polished but marble can be made to look like that too with some kind of compound surely. I would imagine they are made in Cuba. I've seen them in other hotels and cigar stores too. The Conde de Villanueva has them as does the Palacio O Farrill. The Nacional ones are the most familiar I suppose. I'd guess they're all made by the same guys then engraved as the orders come in.
Fuzz Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 They look like marble to me. I've always seen granite as being speckled, whereas marble has veins.
TheMonk Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 They look really nice... Need to get one when I go back next time!
oliverdst Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 I think they wouldnt be so cheap if they were imported and marble. Maybe they are granite and imported. Or marbel and national. Or granite and national. Or I am all wrong. 1
CUBANO Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 Don't know what they are marble or something else, but they do look nice Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk 2
archosaur Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 They appear to be marble. This (partial) article suggests Cuba has lots of marble quarries: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cuba's+traditional+marble+industry+poised+for+a+comeback.-a0276721273 The grey appears to be called Gris Siboney, and the pink perhaps the more rare Orquidea Sierra? (though I clicked on a stone vendor site and they classify the Orquidea Sierra as a limestone... Obviously I have too much time on my hands, and no Nacional ashtray 1
warren516 Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 Mike - Just let me know when you go and I'll drive down to Georgia to pick mine up from you.
El Presidente Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 They appear to be marble. This (partial) article suggests Cuba has lots of marble quarries: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cuba's+traditional+marble+industry+poised+for+a+comeback.-a0276721273 The grey appears to be called Gris Siboney, and the pink perhaps the more rare Orquidea Sierra? (though I clicked on a stone vendor site and they classify the Orquidea Sierra as a limestone... Obviously I have too much time on my hands, and no Nacional ashtray Nice work!
Chelsea8 Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 Good point. I need to have a close look at mine. What's the easiest way to tell the difference, little crystals in the stone? They are generally highly polished but marble can be made to look like that too with some kind of compound surely. I would imagine they are made in Cuba. I've seen them in other hotels and cigar stores too. The Conde de Villanueva has them as does the Palacio O Farrill. The Nacional ones are the most familiar I suppose. I'd guess they're all made by the same guys then engraved as the orders come in. Well if Cuba has marble and the ashtrays are indeed made there and not in China, etc, then perhaps the heavy ones are marble. Similar to what Fuzz said, if it has speckles/crystal type surface, then likely to be granite. Marble usually veins, either clear or smudged.
Lotusguy Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 How hard would it be to send a sample to China and have them crank out a few dozen? 1
Popular Post Ryan Posted October 23, 2015 Popular Post Posted October 23, 2015 Well if Cuba has marble and the ashtrays are indeed made there and not in China, etc, then perhaps the heavy ones are marble. Similar to what Fuzz said, if it has speckles/crystal type surface, then likely to be granite. Marble usually veins, either clear or smudged. How hard would it be to send a sample to China and have them crank out a few dozen? Marble and granite would have very similar weights. There is plenty of both in Cuba. Walk past any building in Havana Vieja or Centro and you see marble covered foyers and stairs. Vedado isn't far behind. Even some of the pavements in Havana Vieja are marble, something I can't remember seeing anywhere else, some of the slippiest footpaths in the world. There's acres of the stuff. The guide in the Bacardi Building told me that the lobby has stone from every continent. I'd believe him. I've read that between 1-3 buildings fall down in Havana Vieja every month, the guys who make the humidors for the gala-dinner auctions (among others) get all of their spanish cedar from beams from collapsed buildings. Even if there were no quarries, there's no shortage of the raw materials in Cuba. At least for ashtrays. Labour is cheap in Cuba, even compared with China. Having the ashtrays made wouldn't be hard, shipping would be an issue, at 4 kg or so each. There is something satisfying about a Hotel Nacional ashtray bought personally in the hotel itself though. 5
Guest rob Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 There is something satisfying about a Hotel Nacional ashtray bought personally in the hotel itself though. I had the regret of not getting one on my first trip..... Made up for it on my second trip! It was harder to bring back home than a bag of heroin, but worth it. I use it every day, and is a great talking point with new comers.
MPS Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 Marble and granite would have very similar weights. There is plenty of both in Cuba. Walk past any building in Havana Vieja or Centro and you see marble covered foyers and stairs. Vedado isn't far behind. Even some of the pavements in Havana Vieja are marble, something I can't remember seeing anywhere else, some of the slippiest footpaths in the world. There's acres of the stuff. The guide in the Bacardi Building told me that the lobby has stone from every continent. I'd believe him. I've read that between 1-3 buildings fall down in Havana Vieja every month, the guys who make the humidors for the gala-dinner auctions (among others) get all of their spanish cedar from beams from collapsed buildings. Even if there were no quarries, there's no shortage of the raw materials in Cuba. At least for ashtrays. Labour is cheap in Cuba, even compared with China. Having the ashtrays made wouldn't be hard, shipping would be an issue, at 4 kg or so each. There is something satisfying about a Hotel Nacional ashtray bought personally in the hotel itself though. There are plenty of beautiful one piece marble ashtrays at calle de la artesania, they just don't say Hotel Nacional on them.
brschoppe Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 So, if I travel to Cuba from the US, would an ashtray fall under my $100 tobacco/alcohol limit or be considered a home good/art piece? BTW - Any luck getting that Chinese manufacture to copy the design? The more I read this tread, the more I want one.
Habana Mike Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 Ashtrays aren't tobacco or alcohol so you're good to go 1
Lotusguy Posted October 24, 2015 Posted October 24, 2015 So, if I travel to Cuba from the US, would an ashtray fall under my $100 tobacco/alcohol limit or be considered a home good/art piece? BTW - Any luck getting that Chinese manufacture to copy the design? The more I read this tread, the more I want one. If people are serious, I can look into it. Would need to buy/borrow a sample or at least get high-res pictures and dimensions (since I don't own one of those beauties). I know it will never replace the experience of picking one up yourself in Havana but not all of us will have that chance or money.
Habanos2000 Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 It was harder to bring back home than a bag of heroin, but worth it... OMG, I found that hilarious!! 1
Ryan Posted November 23, 2015 Posted November 23, 2015 On Friday, I spoke to the guy at the counter at the Nacional where these things used to be sold. He said no more of them, ever. I know Cuba well enough to know that answer could change next week but he was unusually insistent and pissed off.
Cigar Surgeon Posted November 23, 2015 Posted November 23, 2015 Talked to the guy at the counter at the Nacional he said the ashtrays haven't been around since February and he has no timeline on when they're going to arrive. They have a sizeable order in but not ETA.
helix Posted November 23, 2015 Posted November 23, 2015 How hard would it be to send a sample to China and have them crank out a few dozen? Not the same thing would have no intrinsic value.....IMO. 1
Lotusguy Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 Not the same thing would have no intrinsic value.....IMO. You wouldn't believe how many people would buy it just to show off. I see some posted here regularly in the daily smoke thread where I know for a fact that the person did not pick it up themselves and has never been to Cuba. Nobody came through with a sample, so this is not moving forward. 1
MPS Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 You wouldn't believe how many people would buy it just to show off. I see some posted here regularly in the daily smoke thread where I know for a fact that the person did not pick it up themselves and has never been to Cuba. Nobody came through with a sample, so this is not moving forward. So if you haven't been to Cuba you can't own or use one? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BonVivant Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 I got two of mine as gifts form a great friend And I got one off ebay for a family member
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