Mid-20th century Art Deco Shagreen desk inkwell Asprey dated London 1929
View Similar Items
Mid-20th century Art Deco Shagreen desk inkwell Asprey dated London 1929
About the Item
- Creator:Asprey International Limited (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 4 in (10.16 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Shagreen,Silver
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1929
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU95343186362
Asprey International Limited
Favored for over two centuries by European royalty, movie stars, rock music legends and England’s elite, Asprey International Limited’s reputation for creating elegant, high-quality furniture, jewelry and decorative objects is without equal. The storied manufacturer’s motto — “It can be done” — exemplifies their approach to design, which has proven over time to be both dynamic and enduring. To this day, Asprey International Limited remains a go-to purveyor of luxury goods and bespoke design services.
The roots of Asprey International Limited can be traced all the way back to 1781 when it was founded by William Asprey in Mitcham, Surrey. The business moved to its revered modern location, 166 Bond Street, in 1847. The company’s highly accurate regulator clock, once displayed in the window of their flagship, became a frequent stop for Londoners wishing to reset their watches.
Asprey first gained renown for its manufacture of exquisitely engineered dressing cases, which were compact pieces of luggage that travelers would use to tote their cosmetics and toiletries. At the International Exhibition of 1862, the company received a gold medal for its excellent dressing-case designs and also earned a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria for their manufacture. Upon his ascension to the throne, King Edward II introduced incredibly formal Buckingham Palace court presentations, balls and soirées, resulting in a huge demand for diamond jewels starting with his coronation in 1902. The court jewelers Asprey, Garrard, Carrington and the newly opened London branch of Cartier were all overwhelmed with orders for sumptuous diamond jewelry to be worn at the king’s elaborate coronation. Currently, Asprey International Limited holds a Royal Warrant from His Royal Majesty Charles, Prince of Wales, for jewelry and silver.
Asprey continued to build its reputation for the production of luxury goods including tableware and silverplate pieces throughout the Victorian period and into the early 20th century. Especially known for its designs of the 1920s and ‘30s, Asprey International Limited considers the Art Deco period to have been its golden age. Their designers embraced the spirited originality of the period with open arms, and Asprey enjoyed a time of intense creativity and debuted a wealth of iconic creations throughout the mid-century modern period, too.
Asprey artisans have designed bespoke pieces for such notable celebrities as British musician Ringo Starr and American actress Angelina Jolie. They have also designed made-to-order accessories for Hollywood movies, most notably the Edwardian-style “Coeur de la Mer,” which was a piece of costume jewelry from James Cameron’s 1997 hit, Titanic. The company’s recreation of the piece — this time designed with actual gems sourced from Sri Lanka — fetched more than $2 million at a fundraiser held in Princess Diana’s honor in 1998. Asprey previously acted as the official jewelry designer for the BAFTA awards and collaborated with Ferrari’s Formula 1 team during the late 1990s.
Asprey International Limited has received many awards and recognitions for its timeless designs. Most notably, it was awarded the Queen's Award to Industry in 1975. The London College of Arms bestowed upon the brand a new official coat of arms in 2006 to mark its esteemed 225-year-long legacy of excellence.
On 1stDibs, find antique Asprey International Limited decorative objects, lighting, serveware and silver and jewelry.
- Two 20th Century Art Deco Hermes Paris Desk Set Pieces circa 1930-1935By HermèsLocated in London, GBTwo beautiful and desirable vintage desk pieces by the most famous luxury brand, the crocodile skin still has its original sheen and is in very good condition. Both pieces have st...Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desk Sets
MaterialsCrocodile
- Antique Early 20th Century Desk Set by Thornhill & Co London Circa 1910By ThornhillLocated in London, GBTravel back in time with this impressive antique desk set by Thornhill & Co, London, dating back to circa 1910. Crafted with care and wrapped in rugged Nile crocodile skin, this set exudes an air of timeless luxury and sophistication. The set consists of two beautifully matched pieces—a stylish stationery box and an elegant desk pad, both adorned with the well-matched crocodile skins. Opening the box reveals thoughtfully designed sections to keep your letters and papers organized, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship of Thornhill & Co. The desk pad, a classic treasure, once held blotting paper and bears the maker's mark on the box's leading edge, a sign of authenticity. The set also comes with the original keys, adding to its historical charm. Measures: Blotter W 10 1/2” x L 13” x H 1 1/4” Box W 10” x H (at back) 8” x D 6” Further reading: The company of Thornhill can be traced back to a cutler named Joseph Gibbs in 1734 based at 137 Bond street in London.By 1772 the business was in the hands of his son James Gibbs & in 1800 was renamed as Gibbs & Lewis by 1805 the business was being run by John James Thornhill & John Morley...Category
Vintage 1910s English Desk Sets
MaterialsCrocodile
- 20th Century Art Deco Shagreen Picture Frame London Circa 1918-20Located in London, GBThis wonderful 20th Century Art Deco Shagreen photograph frame is in excellent condition with a convex bullnose edge detail, rather than a fl...Category
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Picture Frames
MaterialsShagreen
- Mid 20th Century Hermes Horse Head Magnifying Glass, France, Circa 1960By HermèsLocated in London, GBIntroducing an elegant mid 20th-century Hermes Horse Head Magnifying Glass from France, Circa 1960. The intricately designed horse's head adds a un...Category
Mid-20th Century French Paperweights
MaterialsGlass
- Large Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver & Enamel Picture Frame Asprey & Co 1929By Asprey International LimitedLocated in London, GBA Large Rare Art Deco Sterling silver & Enamel photograph frame Made in Birmingham 1929 Makers Asprey & Co, Beautiful quality in a pure Art Deco form. The colour both the silver &...Category
Early 20th Century British Picture Frames
MaterialsSterling Silver, Enamel
- 20th Century Novelty Smokers Compendium Plane J A Henckels Germany Circa 1930By J. A. HenckelsLocated in London, GB20th Century Novelty Smokers Compendium Plane J A Henckels Germany Circa 1930. A wonderful smokers compendium in the form of an aeroplane by maker J.A Henckels. A beautiful showp...Category
Mid-20th Century German More Desk Accessories
MaterialsSilver Plate, Nickel
- Asprey Art Deco Sterling Silver & Shagreen Magnifying GlassBy Asprey International LimitedLocated in Bath, GBA magnificent magnifying glass by the creme de la creme of English retailer's, Asprey of Bond Street, London. The silver is fully hallmarked for London 1928 together with the maker's mark W.M. The silver is also signed "Asprey London". Excellent antique condition with minor wear commensurate with age measuring 7 3/4" x 3 5/8" x 5/8". A slight wobble to the magnifier due to the traditional pinned construction rather than glued, mentioned purely for accuracy. The handle is made from polished Shagreen, a leather made from sharkskin or the skin of a Stingray. This type of Shagreen was first made popular by Jean-Claude Galluchat (d1774) a master leather worker in the Court of Louis XV in France. It became a fashion amongst the French aristocracy and later throughout Europe. Shagreen is derived from the French word “Chagrin”. Asprey is a British retailer of jewellery, leather, silver and other luxury goods. Founded in 1781, the House has historically been recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent luxury goods brands and has a substantial client base of members of royalty, heads of state and important actors on the world stage. For over two centuries, Asprey has been regarded as a top British luxury lifestyle brand and the Bruton Street Flagship Store is considered a must see London destination. Asprey’s broad product assortment includes jewellery, leather goods, accessories, silver, watches, clocks, first edition...Category
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Desk Sets
MaterialsSterling Silver
- 20th Century Marble French Art Deco Inkwell, 1930Located in Vicoforte, PiedmontFrench marble inkstand from the Art Deco era. Inkwell for antique dealers and collectors of excellent quality and difficult to find. Object built with different marble elements appli...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Inkwells
MaterialsMarble
- An Art Deco Desk Tidy by Asprey LondonLocated in Forest Row, East SussexAn Art Deco Desk Tidy/ Pin Tray. Bronze tiger mounted ob an oval onyx base. Retailed by Asprey of London Dimensions: H 8cm W 16.5cm D 25cm Origi...Category
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Desk Sets
MaterialsOnyx, Bronze
- Vintage Inkwell, Mid-20th CenturyLocated in Roma, ITVintage inkwell is a decorative object realized in the Mid-20th Century Silver and glass inkwell. Fair conditions due to the timeCategory
Mid-20th Century Italian Inkwells
MaterialsSilver
- Bronze Inkwell, Mid-20th CenturyLocated in Roma, ITBronze inkwell is an original decorative object realized in the mid-20th century. A very elegant bronze inkwell decorated with a rampant horse. Includes a couple of ink inkwell.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Inkwells
MaterialsBrass
- Asprey London American Art Deco Satinwood Table Picture Frame Exceptional PieceBy Asprey International LimitedLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this stunning Vintage American Art Deco satinwood picture frame from Asprey London All were purchased from A...Category
20th Century English Art Deco Picture Frames
MaterialsSatinwood
