During my recent visit to my ancestral home, I bumped into my father’s smoking apparatus, having all his favorites – a cigar, a tobacco pipe, and an old smoking stand that he had gotten for $10. Sounds futile, I know!
But do you know this same old & rusty smoking stand can be worth up to $1,000 today? Thanks to its hand-molded sides, inlays, and decals, the antique smoking stand’s value escalates crazily! So, join me in decoding such age-old factors that reveal your old smoking stand’s worth.
Key Takeaways
- Antique smoking stands with unique folk or federal carvings, drawers, humidors & shiny chrome accents are all worth your money.
- You’ll get about four main types of vintage smoking stand designs, the earliest of which are pedestal or cabinet ones, which cost more.
- Antique smoking stands with their original patent numbers, logos, signs & marks cost more due to their authenticity.
- Pick antique smoking stands with styled colonial, Edwardian, or Art Deco designs for more intricate & valuable designs.
How to Identify Old & Valuable Smoking Stands?
You can spot old smoking stands by their aged patina and hand-glued joints. But, if you want to identify the valuable ones worth your money, verify the following features first:
- Handmade mahogany or oak frames with brass, bronze & chrome accents
- Integrated glass, ceramic, or metal ashtrays
- Extra drawers or humidors for cigars & tobacco
- Attached fluid or electrical lighters
- Superior Edwardian, Art Deco, Mid-century, or folk art designs
Brief History of Smoking Stands & Ashtrays
Historians still debate the origins of antique smoking stands. Some say they belong to Europe, while others trace them to 1900s America. Whatever the country, you can still look for simple, dark wood stands and inlays to spot the earliest ones.
Then in 1910, makers focused on functions. So, they added various sections and racks to sort the cigars. In fact, some even added humidors and tin liners to preserve the tobacco. But they were heavy, with a low capacity of 5 – 6 ounces.
So, by the 1920s, makers shifted to lighter glass & bakelite stands. And later, they improved them with fused cigarette holders, ashtrays, and lighters.
Finally, we had the Golden Age (1960s), when plastic became popular, even for smoking stands. Plus, it was light, minimal, and had better, colorful designs than wood. So, people ditched the old wood smoking stands, making them rare & valuable today!
4 Types of Antique Smoking Stand Designs & Their Worth
Now, let’s analyze how the following smoking stand types & designs affect their actual worth:
| Antique Smoking Stand Type | Years | Unique & Special Traits | Estimated Cost |
| Pedestal Smoking Stands | 1920 – 1950 | Tall, circular, or squarish stands with a central stem, round base, and integrated electric or mechanical parts | $100 – 1200 |
| Cabinet Smoking Stands | 1900 – 1950 | Small, cuboidal stands with enclosed storage, doors, lids, and metal legs | $200 – 1500 |
| Tabletop Smoking Stands | 1920 – 1960 | Simple table or rack-shaped stands with drawers, lids, and ashtrays on the top | $50 – 600 |
| Tiered Smoking Stands | 1940 – 1970 | 2 – 3 tiered stands with small tobacco storage, ashtrays, and cigar cutters at each level | $30 – 500 |
6 Factors to Assess the Value of Your Antique Smoking Stand
When appraising your smoking stands, many factors, like its age, shape, and colors, will help you. So, let’s check them out below!
1. Age & Patent Numbers
Want to know if your smoking stands old & worth the ‘antique vibe?’ Then verify if it has a stamped patent number, a key feature of the early 1900s models on the following places:
- Between the carvings and inlays on the base or pedestal
- Front or side panels of the cabinets, walls, or shelves
- Pipe racks or slots
- Matchbox trays and plates
But, if your smoking stand doesn’t have a patent number, then move on to these detailed features below:
| Old Smoking Stand Years | Age | How to Identify Them? | Patent Numbers | Estimated Value |
| 1900 – 1905 | 118 – 123 years | Dark mahogany or walnut stands with brass, bronze, or marble inlays, plain or brushed surfaces, and metal accents | N. A | $500 – 4000, as per the condition |
| 1905 – 1915 | 108 – 118 years | Carved, Victorian-style designs with light, textured inlays, nature-inspired motifs, and curved edges | US1237014A | $300 – 2500 |
| 1920 – 1930 | 93 – 103 years | Bold & Geometric smoking stands, each with integrated ashtrays, cigarette spaces, and pipe cutters | US1559234A, US1735671A, US1646099A, US1531248A, US1684589A | $100 – 1800 |
| 1940 – 1960 | 63 – 83 years | Simple & functional designs with metal or plastic sides, broad designs, thin walls, and butt holders | US2228008A, US2000920A, US2440783A, US2114527A | $30 – 900 |
Get old smoking stands with 2-3 storage compartments, attached tobacco pouches, snuff boxes, and pipe holders for an old make.
2. Materials
Just like other antiques, the earliest 1860s smoking stands had local Oak or exotic Rosewood panels. But then, by the 1920s, makers started using lightweight metal, acrylic, and bakelite.
So, let’s check how different materials affect a smoking stand’s worth:
| Antique Smoking Stand Materials | Years | Average Price |
| Wood – Mahogany, Walnut, Oak, or Rosewood | 1900 – 1960 | $150 – 2000 |
| Brass, Cast Iron & Bronze | 1910 – 1950 | $300 – 1700 |
| Chrome & Reflective Metal | 1920 – 1960 | $100 – 1500 |
| Bakelite, Acrylic & Plastics | 1920 – 1950 | $30 – 400 |
| Stained & Leaded Glass | 1900 – 1930 | $500 – 3500 |
| Ceramic & Porcelain | 1950s | $70 – 500 |
| Formica & Laminates | 1960s | $30 – 200 |
Pick antique smoking stands with brushed nickel, enamel & porcelain finishes for more returns.
3. Styles
If an old smoking stand has intricate Victorian or Edwardian motifs, it might be a precious 1900s stand. But, if it has more of the new-age Industrial or Bohemian designs, it’s a 1950s smoking stand that’s not worth more than $500.
And here’s how different art styles & designs affect a smoking stand’s worth:
| Old Smoking Stand Styles | Years | Top & Collectible Features | Average Value |
| Colonial & Victorian | 1900s | Dark mahogany or walnut walls with brass accents & multi-tiered shelves | $200 – 3000 |
| Edwardian | 1900 – 1910 | Light wood walls, delicate natural inlays and carvings | $150 – 2000 |
| Art Nouveau | 1910 – 1915 | Brass, Bronze & Glass stands, each with flower, leaf and flowing designs | $200 – 1500 |
| Mission or Art & Crafts | 1900 – 1920 | Simple, muted smoking stands with geometric inlays & designs | $200 – 1800 |
| Art Deco | 1920 – 1930 | Exotic, geometric designs with chrome, bakelite & colored accents | $150 – 2000 |
| Mid-century Modern | 1940 – 1960 | Minimal, functional designs with chrome, metal, and plastic designs | $100 – 1200 |
| Industrial | 1950 – 1960 | Functional & rugged stands with sleek metal edges and glossy finishes | $70 – 500 |
| Bohemian | 1960s | Portable stand with free-flowing eclectic patterns and minimal designs | $30 – 400 |
Try to get antique smoking stands with original ‘Made in USA’ or ‘European Union’ marks for a good value.
4. Antique Smoking Stand Brands
Branded things are always worth more than regular ones. So, make sure that you note all the signs, designer names, and brand logos on your smoking stand’s frame. Then check their details & resale cost from the table below:
| Vintage Smoking Stand Styles | Unique Traits | Estimated Cost |
| Bradley & Hubbard Smoking Stands | Brass or Cast Iron stands with decorative finials, inlays, and embossed signs and logos | $200 – 2500 |
| Tiffany Studios | Glossy, Art Nouveau-style stands with stamped logos, dates, and pedestal bases | $500 – 4000 |
| Dunhill | Luxury, branded smoking stands with glossy metal finishes and attached pipe or cigarette holders | $500 – 3000 |
| Mission furniture makers | Simple oak stands with Art & Craft style carvings & inlays | $400 – 2500 |
Avoid getting chipped, broken, or faded smoking stands, as they don’t value much today.
5. Antique Smoking Stand Shapes
The shape is a simple yet effective visual cue to appraise an old smoking stand’s worth. Antique stands have four basic shapes, of which the square & drum ones are old & valuable. In contrast, tiered or novelty smoking stands are relatively new & cheaper.
Let’s check the details here:
| Antique Smoking Stand Shapes | Years | Average Value |
| Circular & Drum | 1920 – 1950 | $100 – 1200 |
| Square & Rectangular | 1900 – 1960 | $400 – 2500 |
| Cuboidal & Tiered | 1930 – 1950 | $30 – 500 |
| Novelty Shapes (Rocket, Horsehead, Symbol, or Structure shaped) | 1940 – 1960 | $50 – 1000 |
6. Color & Finish
It’s not just the shape; even the colors and finishes help appraise old smoking stands rightly. It’s so that the earliest 1900s stands had bare wood or brass and metal finishes. But, by the 1930s, makers had switched to bold red, blue, and green hues.
Here’s how to identify and value antique smoking stands based on color:
| Old Smoking Stand Colors | Estimated Cost |
| Barewood (Oak, Walnut & Mahogany stains) | $400 – 3000 |
| Chrome, Pewter, Silver, or Metallic Colors | $200 – 2500 |
| Black & Gray | $100 – 1500 |
| Red, Blue & Green | $50 – 900 |
| White & Cream | $70 – 1000 |
What is the Purpose of an Antique Smoking Stand?
An antique smoking stand was designed to be a one-stop solution for all smoking-related accessories – tobacco, ashtrays, cigar cutters, humidors, and lighters.
What is a Cabinet-Style Smoking Stand?
A cabinet-style smoking stand is an enclosed, one-drawer smoking stand with attached ashtrays, pipes, concealed doors, and copper lining.
How Do You Clean an Antique Smokers Stand?
One of the easiest ways to clean an old smoker’s stand is to rinse it with warm water and then rub it vigorously with a coarse steel brush. And if there are any sticky stains, scrub them off with salt, baking soda, or vinegar.
Be it small old smoking stands and Windsor chairs or large sofas and Hoosier cabinets, there’s no doubt that people love collecting antique furniture! But to know if it’s worth the market, you must dig deeper into its materials, brands, and age. So, just dust the piece and analyze the tables; I am sure you’ll find your antique smoking stand’s true worth!
