The exhibition of the Taganrog Museum of Architecture and Urbanism houses a transparent crystal ashtray. It was produced at the Taganrog Metallurgical Plant, an enterprise with a century-long history. The first products were manufactured there in 1897.

In 1918, after the Russian Revolution, the Taganrog Metallurgical Plant was nationalized. During the Soviet period, it became one of the country’s major industrial centers. During the Great Patriotic War, the plant was destroyed by German forces. However, after Taganrog was liberated, citizens quickly began rebuilding the plant.

The ashtray from the museum collection is a bowl standing on a pentagonal base. In the 1970s, crystal products could be found in many Soviet houses and apartments. Usually, elegant crystal figurines were carefully preserved in display cabinets and “wall units, ” while delicate crystal tableware was only used on special occasions. A crystal ashtray was not just a receptacle for ash and cigarette butts, but also a beautiful piece of interior décor that reflected the taste of its owner.

In 1973, the Soviet government urged enterprises to expand the range of consumer goods. The Taganrog Metallurgical Plant of the Order of the October Revolution established a glass department for manufacturing crystal products. It was set up at pipe welding shop No. 3. The plant introduced new products, including tableware and decorative items.

“Tagmet” crystal products have gained wide recognition in the domestic and international markets. Thanks to continuous improvements in product design and décor, over the past 40 years, the glass department has developed a wide range of over 200 glass and crystal products.

The displayed ashtray was produced using the hand-blowing technique, followed by annealing — a process that involves gradually heating an object, exposing it to high temperatures, and slowly cooling it down. The ashtray was also subjected to manual brilliant cutting. After that, the crystal product was treated with acids to remove the matte finish at the edges. This process is known as “chemical polishing.”