Hungarian Copper Ashtray by Szabó Gyula

Hungarian copper dish by Szabó Gyula, somewhere between an ashtray, a small relief sculpture, and a very convincing argument for making everyday objects far more dramatic than necessary.
 
Hammered copper with a raised geometric panel to the centre, combining folk-inspired motifs with the sharper architectural language that ran through a lot of Hungarian modernist decorative arts during the 1960s and 70s. The surface has darkened beautifully over time, with softer bronze tones appearing around the edges and high points.
 
It’s a small object, but not a timid one. The proportions are unusually satisfying in person — low, heavy, and very deliberate. The kind of piece that feels equally at home next to studio ceramics, brutalist metalwork, or simply left on its own doing the work quietly.
 
Signed “SZABU GY.” to the front with original Hungarian workshop label remaining underneath.
 
Condition: Excellent
Size: W 11cm x H 1cm