Pottery ashtray decorated with 'The Ashes', c.1962. Lancaster and Sandland pottery, square. Decoration: The Ashes urn together with the velvet bag embroidered 1883; transfer in maroon; captioned The Ashes. (The earliest print of this engraving simulated the actual colour of the urn and bag but was found to be too expensive; later a purple colour was used instead.) On base: the manufacturer's stamp only: (Shape No. is 426).