Absolutely Fantastic Extremely Rare Antique George V Period (1929s) Highly Collectible English “Asprey of London” 18ct Gold Sliding Swizzlestick (Champagne / Cocktail Stirrer) Complete In Original Box (5.5”/14cm Fully Open & 5.4g In Weight).
Marvellous item. Made by the world renowned highly esteemed Asprey of London. Beautifully handcrafted and engine turned. Work of a master craftsman of the highest order. Items this quality are seldom being made these days in the UK or anywhere on earth. Would make a fantastic exquisite acquisition or gift for the right discerning lady or gentleman.
A swizzlestick is a small stick used to stir drinks. The original swizzle sticks were created in the 18th century at a rum plantation in the West Indies using the branch of the Quararibea turbinata(also known as the "Swizzle stick tree"). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stir sticks made of glass were created to shake out the bubbles from champagne, whose carbonation caused indigestion for some drinkers.
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. Asprey has supplied crowns, coronets and sceptres for royal families around the globe.
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 leather bound books, china, crystal, games, silk and accessories. At present, Asprey holds a Royal Warrant from HRH Prince of Wales for jewellery and silver.
From 1996 to 1998, Asprey held a partnership with Ferrari's Formula 1 team. Asprey have designed and manufactured sporting trophies, including the Race To Dubai trophy and the Dubai World Championship(DWC) trophy. In addition, Asprey is responsible for crafting the ICC cricket trophies, Wimbledon championship runner-up and winner's salvers, the Arab Club Champions Cup trophy as well as the English football FA Cup, and Premier League medals.
Asprey has maintained its London workshops allowing repairs and alterations to be completed while a customer waits. An expanded jewellery, silver and leather workshop based in London are where classic skills are employed by expert silversmiths, goldsmiths, jewellers, leatherworkers, engravers and watchmakers.
Asprey will go to any length to meet a customer's requirements. The firm's craftsmen actually made a silver-gilt sandwich. They toasted three slices of bread in their workshop, fried the eggs, broiled the bacon, assembled the sandwich, made a mould, and cast it. It now sits on the desk of a Texan millionaire. The motto is 'It Can be Done'.
In 1862, Asprey was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria. The Prince of Wales, later to be crowned Edward VII, granted another Royal Warrant.
In 1953, for the coronation of Elizabeth II, Asprey paid homage with the Asprey Coronation Year Gold Collection, which featured a dessert, coffee and liqueur service in 18-carat gold and weighed almost 27 pounds. In April 1953, it went on show in the New Bond Street store and subsequently toured the United States. Asprey today holds a Royal warrant as silversmiths and Goldsmiths under HRH Prince of Wales patronage.
Asprey re-created the Queen's diamond diadem, worn at the Coronation in 1953. One thousand white diamonds are being set in platinum by Asprey craftsmen and overlaid onto the original three-dimensional image of Her Majesty to create the luminescent installation.
Asprey designed the Heart of the Oceannecklace that was featured in the 1997 James Cameron blockbuster Titanic. Asprey has featured in a number of films:
Help! (1965)
Titanic (1997)
Flawless
Match Point (2005)
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Sherlock Holmes
Confessions of a Shopaholic(2009)
The Ghost Writer
Nanny McPhee: The Big Bang (2010)
The Tourist
The 2011 film My Week with Marilynwas filmed at Asprey, 167 New Bond Street
In 2009, Asprey became the official jewellery sponsor of The Orange British Academy Film Awards and continues this partnership today. Asprey collaborated with screen stars, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to create the Asprey's Protector Collection of fine jewellery for both children and adults in 2009.
Asprey continues to trade as a luxury goods house, active in market such as the US and Japan. According to a survey of US high-net-worth consumers polled for the Luxury Institute's 2012 Luxury Brand Status Index, Asprey was ranked among the top two of international fine jewellery brands, able to deliver true luxury. In March 2006, Sciens Capital Management, the US private equity firm, bought Asprey. "This is a historic luxury brand, and that is part of our reason for acquiring it," said chairman John Rigas, following the purchase from Lawrence Stroll, Silas Chou (of Sportswear Holdings Ltd) and Edgar Bronfman Jr.
Subsequently, Rigas has re-focused the business to concentrate on flagships and stand alone stores in key international locations. In 2009, Hermés, the French luxury fashion house, made a property investment purchasing the freehold of the New Bond Street shop that Asprey occupied. Asprey held a 31-year lease on the premises and continued to remain in the space until 2021. Asprey moved to 36 Bruton Street at the end of 2021, its new permanent flagship, firstly creating an installation space designed by the Storey Group, an immersive experience of discovery and exploration.
Key dates
1781: Asprey begins trading as William Asprey in Mitcham, Surrey
1847: Asprey flagship store opens on New Bond Street, London
1851: Asprey receives an 'Honourable Mention' at the Great Exhibition for their lady's dressing case with 'Annie' cipher.[3]
1862: Royal Warrant granted by Queen Victoria
1889: Edward VII grants the second Royal Warrant to Asprey
1925: HM Queen Mary commissions a necklace, later given to HRH Princess Margaret on the occasion of her 18th birthday
1930: Maharaja of Patialacommissions five trunks, one for each of his five wives
1973: Bespoke chess set is commissioned for Ringo Starr's birthday
1975: Asprey received the Queen's Award to Industry by Queen Elizabeth
1990: Asprey and Garrard merge
2002: Asprey and Garrard split
2004: Lord Foster of Thames Bankredesigns the flagship store in New Bond Street, London
2006: Asprey celebrates its 225th anniversary and is granted a coat of arms by the English College of Arms
2006: Sciens Capital Management and Plainfield Asset Management purchase the brand
2009: Asprey becomes the official jewellery sponsor of The Orange British Academy Film Awards
2012: Katie Hillier creates new autumn/winter collection
2012: Asprey collaborates with light artist Chris Levine to create The Diamond Queen for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
2012: May – New York based Luxury Institute ranks Asprey in the top two luxury brands for 2012
2014: Bovet 1822 join Asprey's Timepiece portfolio
2015: Asprey becomes an official retailer of Rolex Watches, London
2016: Asprey becomes the official Jewellery sponsor of The Olivier Awards
2017: Opening of Asprey at Takashimaya Osaka and Sunmotoyama Ginza, Japan
2017: Celebration of the twenty year anniversary of the Asprey Boutique, Beverly Hills Hotel
2018: Asprey launches the Beverly Hills Collection
2021: Asprey celebrates its 240th Anniversary
2021: Asprey Collaborates with Formula 1
2021: Asprey moves its flagship store to Mayfair's Bruton Street, its permanent location.
2022: Asprey 240 Launches its Digital Studio in the new flagship store
2022: Asprey Collaborates with Bugatti on 'La Voiture Noire' Collection of Sculptures + NFTs