The “Defence Headquarters” of Zambia was established after independence in 1964. These presentation ashtrays were typically produced from the mid-1960s through to the 1980s as institutional gifts. The style of the marks and the ashtray form strongly suggests 1960s-1970s production. The maker: JMP = Julius Martin Products (or Julius Martin & Partners) The research strongly points to this being made by the Johannesburg firm founded when Julius Martin bought the original business, then known as Henry Joseph & Sons (Pty.), in 1948 from its original owners who were Birmingham immigrants. His son Leslie Martin joined him, and by the late 1960s the company was already established as the largest manufacturer of silverplate in South Africa.
Mint condition , this could be polished back to a brite shine finish or kept with this nice grey silver age patina finish.
