Asprey Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Betjemann Patent Mechanism
Ref DL006
SOLD
This beautiful antique jewellery box is veneered in figured Coromandel and edged in brass. The large self-locking Bramah lock aperture on the front is stamped with ‘ASPREY'S PATENT' around the circumference. 'Asprey's Patent' refers to the design of the lock, whereby the front aperture slides to the right, disengaging the locking mechanism and thus allows the box to then be opened.
Featuring an extraordinary set of internal mechanisms, this box is able to cantilever out into six compartmented tiers. This mechanism was designed and patented by the manufacturers, George Betjemann & Sons.
The interior is lined and partitioned with purple velvet. The front flap of the box drops forward to allow the top two compartments to swing out at right-angles to the box. This then reveals another two velvet-lined compartments underneath. These secondary tiers are spring-loaded and cantilever out by pushing down on a sliding button at the base of the box. When fully opened out, further push buttons on the secondary tiers are revealed, and these release concealed spring-loaded drawers from the front of them. These dovetail joined drawers are made from solid Satinwood and have velvet-lined compartments with full width ring/ cuff-link channels.
The rear section has a foliate brass gallery frontage with two concealed leather-bound pull-out drawers underneath. The large leather-lined base of the box contains a separate full-width velvet-lined compartment. Brass plaques inlaid into the rims of the base section, read 'Betjemann's 59' and 'Patent 59'.
There is a removable ruched velvet panel set into the lid that can be sprung forward and reversed to display a leather framed mirror. The right-hand hinge of the lid has incremental adjustments to allow the mirror (when stored inside the lid) to be adjusted for the ideal viewing angle. Beneath the mirror is a gold tooled maker's mark in the velvet that reads 'Asprey & Son - 166 Bond St and 22 Albemarle St'
The Bramah lock is fully working and comes with its original Bramah key. ... Read More
Featuring an extraordinary set of internal mechanisms, this box is able to cantilever out into six compartmented tiers. This mechanism was designed and patented by the manufacturers, George Betjemann & Sons.
The interior is lined and partitioned with purple velvet. The front flap of the box drops forward to allow the top two compartments to swing out at right-angles to the box. This then reveals another two velvet-lined compartments underneath. These secondary tiers are spring-loaded and cantilever out by pushing down on a sliding button at the base of the box. When fully opened out, further push buttons on the secondary tiers are revealed, and these release concealed spring-loaded drawers from the front of them. These dovetail joined drawers are made from solid Satinwood and have velvet-lined compartments with full width ring/ cuff-link channels.
The rear section has a foliate brass gallery frontage with two concealed leather-bound pull-out drawers underneath. The large leather-lined base of the box contains a separate full-width velvet-lined compartment. Brass plaques inlaid into the rims of the base section, read 'Betjemann's 59' and 'Patent 59'.
There is a removable ruched velvet panel set into the lid that can be sprung forward and reversed to display a leather framed mirror. The right-hand hinge of the lid has incremental adjustments to allow the mirror (when stored inside the lid) to be adjusted for the ideal viewing angle. Beneath the mirror is a gold tooled maker's mark in the velvet that reads 'Asprey & Son - 166 Bond St and 22 Albemarle St'
The Bramah lock is fully working and comes with its original Bramah key. ... Read More
- Width: 34.7 cm / 13.75 inches
- Depth: 26.6 cm / 10.5 inches
- Height: 21.9 cm / 8.75 inches
