Ashtray

This wooden ashtray with decorative pokerwork was made by a disabled soldier from the First World War. Rehabilitation centres were set up around New Zealand by the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League to teach disabled servicemen vocational skills.

In 1932 the Wellington committee of the League opened a retail shop to sell the resulting goods made by disabled servicemen, the first of many shops in various centres. Paua jewellery, suede and leather goods, inlaid work, baskets, toys, and Maori carved items were sold at the shops, often catering to tourists. The production of craft was sometimes one of the few ways that disabled servicemen could earn a living.