Asprey ‘Exhibition’ Piece - Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Brass Inlay and Secret Compartments
Ref DL134
SOLD
This exceptional antique box, manufactured by Charles Asprey & Son, is veneered in Coromandel with engraved brass inlay and ornate 'neo-classically' styled handles.
The interior of the box is lined with purple moiré silk, accompanying matching velvet, and finished with guilloché engine-turned brass work. The front flap of the box opens forward to reveal a concealed drawer frontage with a recessed brass handle. A hidden floor trigger in the main compartment deploys the spring-loaded drawer mechanism.
With the drawer removed, another hidden spring-loaded trigger in the front wall of the main compartment releases a concealed jewellery tray from the ceiling of the drawer housing.
Sliding a pointed implement into the top of the lock aperture engages a spring-loaded rod that travels through the front flap of the box to release a concealed spring-loaded floor unit. This floor unit contains three lidded sections, two of which contain removable gold sovereign trays.
The brass plate on the front rim of the box is engraved with, ‘Asprey - Dressing Case Manufacturer - 166, Bond Street’.
The six lever Chubb lock dates to late December 1847 and comes with its original key.
Comments:
Upon first viewing this piece, one can tell this is a very special box indeed, but I believe this goes much further. The box displays several different design styles and techniques of manufacture; the ’neo-classical’ style handles seem in direct contrast to the angular lines of the brass inlay to the top and the front, and the use of extravagant engraving on the handles is in contrast to the more subtly engraved ‘accents’ used on the angular brass inlay. What's particularly interesting is that the exterior design is not echoed within the interior design. This is very unusual for a decorative box. Instead, the interior brass work is finished with guilloché engine-turning. Furthermore, within a relatively shallow height, Asprey have ingeniously managed to include three concealed spring-loaded units; the floor unit and its triggering mechanism being exceptionally innovative.
These factors suggest that this box was an exhibition piece rather than a commission piece; possibly Asprey’s portfolio piece, created for the purpose of demonstrating their creativity, craftsmanship and range of skills to their customers.
This possibility is further evidenced by confirmation that the lock’s serial number is dated late December 1847; this date being particularly important because it falls within approximately one month of Asprey first opening their shop at 166 Bond Street, London. ... Read More
The interior of the box is lined with purple moiré silk, accompanying matching velvet, and finished with guilloché engine-turned brass work. The front flap of the box opens forward to reveal a concealed drawer frontage with a recessed brass handle. A hidden floor trigger in the main compartment deploys the spring-loaded drawer mechanism.
With the drawer removed, another hidden spring-loaded trigger in the front wall of the main compartment releases a concealed jewellery tray from the ceiling of the drawer housing.
Sliding a pointed implement into the top of the lock aperture engages a spring-loaded rod that travels through the front flap of the box to release a concealed spring-loaded floor unit. This floor unit contains three lidded sections, two of which contain removable gold sovereign trays.
The brass plate on the front rim of the box is engraved with, ‘Asprey - Dressing Case Manufacturer - 166, Bond Street’.
The six lever Chubb lock dates to late December 1847 and comes with its original key.
Comments:
Upon first viewing this piece, one can tell this is a very special box indeed, but I believe this goes much further. The box displays several different design styles and techniques of manufacture; the ’neo-classical’ style handles seem in direct contrast to the angular lines of the brass inlay to the top and the front, and the use of extravagant engraving on the handles is in contrast to the more subtly engraved ‘accents’ used on the angular brass inlay. What's particularly interesting is that the exterior design is not echoed within the interior design. This is very unusual for a decorative box. Instead, the interior brass work is finished with guilloché engine-turning. Furthermore, within a relatively shallow height, Asprey have ingeniously managed to include three concealed spring-loaded units; the floor unit and its triggering mechanism being exceptionally innovative.
These factors suggest that this box was an exhibition piece rather than a commission piece; possibly Asprey’s portfolio piece, created for the purpose of demonstrating their creativity, craftsmanship and range of skills to their customers.
This possibility is further evidenced by confirmation that the lock’s serial number is dated late December 1847; this date being particularly important because it falls within approximately one month of Asprey first opening their shop at 166 Bond Street, London. ... Read More
- Width: 34.5 cm / 13.5 inches
- Depth: 28.7 cm / 11.25 inches
- Height: 16 cm / 6.25 inches
