Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd. Collectibles and Curiosities

Wafer petrol pocket lighter designed by Asprey & Company. Beautiful wafer lighter, created in London England by the luxury house of Asprey & Company Limited, back in the 1963. Crafted during the post-war period with a rectangular shape in solid .925/.999 sterling silver The lighted is embellished with an amazing engine turned guilloche decorations and is fully dismountable for servicing. Fitted on top with push semi automatic button. Excellent craftmanship depicting an odd and geometric shape, It is in perfect condition with no dents or previous restorations. Weight: 43.50 Grams, (27.88 Dwt). Measurements: 56 mm by 39 mm by 6.5 mm (2.20 x 1.53 x 0.26 Inches). Hallmarks All parts are stamped with British crown marks, the lion head mark for the city of London, the maker's mark A&Co. Ltd. associated to Asprey, the mark for the assay of the .925 silver, the letter H for the years 1963-1964 and signed, "ASPREY LONDON MADE IN ENGLAND Y7 A&CO LTD H REGD No. 856727". Asprey The company was established in England in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1781. Founded as a silk printing business by William Asprey, it soon became a luxury emporium. In 1841, William Asprey's elder son Charles went into partnership with a stationer located on London's Bond Street. In 1847, the family broke with this partner and moved into 167 New Bond Street, the premises Asprey occupies today. From its central London location, Asprey advertised 'articles of exclusive design and high quality, whether for personal adornment or personal accompaniment and to endow with richness and beauty the table and homes of people of refinement and discernment.' An early specialty was dressing cases. Asprey crafted traditional cases and designs, mostly in leather, suitable for the new style of travel ushered in by railways. As the business grew, the company acquired manufacturing facilities and hired silversmith, goldsmith, jewelers and watchmakers. In the 1920's, commissions poured in from around the world, from American millionaire J. P. Morgan to potentates such as the Maharaja of Patiala, who commissioned a huge teak travelling trunk for each of his wives, in which each trunk was fitted with solid silver washing and bathing utensils with waterspouts of ornate tiger head and lined with blue velvet. Asprey cigarette...

The Charles petrol lighter designed by Meyer Maximilian Levene An exceptional and rare silver-plated 'The Charles' petrol pocket lighter stamped 'The Charles Lighter', made in London England, back in the 1947. It was rafted with slim rectangular form, decorated with engine-turned casing, double entry hinged lids with innovative internal mechanical features, including a revolving flint tube to provide even wear to the flint, and a rear barrel containing spare flint chambers so that semi-automatic loading of the spare flint can be undertaken. The Charles Lighter has an extremely complicated mechanism. The flint rotates while grinded by the friction wheel. Also interesting is the revolving magazine for spare flints. A fine example of complete over-engineering. This was made only for a very short period and was patented by Meyer Maximilian Levene in 1949. Weight: 70.50 Grams, (45.19 Dwt). Measurements: 48 mm by 43 mm by 12 mm (1.89 x 1.69 x 0.77 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed in full, "THE CHARLES LIGHTER MADE IN ENGLAND BRITISH & DOMINION & FOREIGN PAT GRANTED.". Literature: Stuart Schneider and Ira Pilossof, The Handbook of Vintage Cigarette Lighters...

Antique Russian Imperial silver & enamel cigarette case, 1898-1914. A rare & unusual antique Russian silver case with an enameled pictorial hun...

Calvary XVIIth century, religious 17th Century Calvary, religious Ancient Calvary from the 17th century carved in boxwood Boxwood is characterized by its hardness and difficult pruning. It has traces of polychromy and gold. Measure: 65x45...

Antique map titled 'Terre Sainte Suivant les Nouvelles Observations (..)'. Original old map of the Holy Land with the picture frame border. The term "Holy Land" usually refers to a t...

20th century child Jesus with Royal globe with Elizabethan frame.

The freestanding cartouche-shaped tinned copper frame embossed overall with scrolling leafy vines surrounding a pair of open oval reserves flanked on either side by embossed motifs of lovebirds. The back showing a hinged easel support which allows the frame to be freestanding, and two top loading compartments intended to receive a pair of framed portrait miniatures which can then be viewed through the twin oval open reserves on the front. The rather naive albeit charming construction & decoration is consistent with items sold by street merchants in the various bazaars & marketplaces frequented by Western & European tourists travelling throughout India and The Middle East during the later part of the 19th century and early 20th century. There are surprisingly very few, if any similar examples of this frame currently available. This would most certainly be a unique addition to any collector of portrait miniatures, particularly those made by India Company School...

An extraordinarily detailed and immaculately recreated Sterling silver 1:12 scale model of Bentley’s 1929 supercharged 4½ litre ‘Blower’ by British silversmith Gil Holt of Anthony Holt & Sons. Only four ‘Team Blowers’ were built for racing, and this registration UU 5872, was Tim Birkin...

Antique map titled 'Dépt. de l'Allier'. Map of the French department of l'Allier, France. This area of France is known for its production of Saint-Pourçain wine. It is also one of th...

Playful true-to-life silver rhinoceros that serves as a lighter other than being a decorative artwork in its own right. Expertly handcrafted by the F...

This stunning piece of horseracing history was presented to the winner of the 1933-1934 Calcutta Races on behalf of King George V. The Calcutta Races was the premier horseracing event in Asia of the period, and its prestige is reflected in this trophy, crafted by the silversmithing firm Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company...

A wonderful Aluminum Art Deco Table lighter by Saroma, made in Japan, 1960. A compliment to the cocktail table, desk or side table - in any room. The lighter is perfect for Cigars,...