Alan Fletcher Mini Space Age Red Caramel Melamine Clam Ashtray Spain 1970s NOS

This Clam ashtray by Alan Fletcher is the smaller-scale version of his iconic 1970s space-age design, produced in Spain by EFMEN and preserved in New Old Stock condition. Never used and retained from original production, this compact variation represents a refined and increasingly scarce format within the Fletcher clam series.
Manufactured in moulded melamine resin, the piece reflects the material innovation characteristic of European industrial design in the 1970s. Melamine, a dense thermoset resin, offers excellent heat resistance and exceptional mould precision, resulting in crisp edge articulation and a smooth, high-gloss surface. Even at a reduced scale, the material gives the ashtray a substantial tactile presence and structural clarity.
The design consists of two interlocking domed halves forming a compact sculptural volume when closed. A distinctive toothed perimeter allows the elements to nest precisely together, producing the rhythmic mechanical edge that defines the Clam series. In this smaller format, the proportions feel more concentrated and jewel-like, emphasising the precision of the moulding and the clarity of Fletcher’s geometric language.
This example is executed in a vivid red and warm caramel colour combination. The saturated red dome creates strong visual presence and contrast, while the caramel base provides warmth and depth, accentuating the flowing perimeter rhythm where the two halves meet. The pairing captures the expressive colour sensibility of 1970s space-age design while maintaining sculptural balance.
As New Old Stock, the surfaces retain their original gloss, sharpness, and structural integrity, free from use-related wear. With EFMEN no longer in operation, smaller-format examples — particularly in bold colour combinations — are becoming increasingly desirable among collectors.
Both functional and sculptural, the mini Clam ashtray stands as a compact yet expressive example of 1970s optimism — playful, material-driven, and precisely engineered.