A LARGE SILVER PLATED CIGAR ASHTRAY

Hemingway rarely gave presents so it came as a surprise when the ashtray arrived at Welle's house in 1955. Both men shared a passion for good Cuban cigars and the ashtray became one of Welle's treasured possessions. Used throughout his life, until he was forced to give up smoking several decades later. These two artistic titans of 20th century first met in New York in 1937 when Welles was recording a  voice-over for the documentary "The Spanish Earth", a Spanish Civil War film for which Hemingway had contributed the commentary. The meeting, according to Welles, ended in fisticuffs  due to artistic differences. Immediately after which, the two men burst out laughing and began a close friendship that lasted until Hemingway's suicide in 1961. This silver-plated ashtray comes with a certificate  of provenance from the Estate of Orson Welles from Heritage Auctions, signed by Beatrice Welles, April 26th 2014,