BRAZILIAN-BRITISH ACCENTS

BY ROBERT JANJIGIAN

SINCE ITS founding in 1781, London-headquartered Asprey has been producing fine jewelry, leather, silver, crystal, china, gifts, handbags, and myriad bespoke luxury goods for a discerning clientele on both sides of the Atlantic.

The company’s latest collection, Giants of the Amazon, is a Homeware line created with the celebrated Brazilian jewelry designer Silvia Furmanovich in collaboration with Asprey’s expert silversmiths. “Silvia Furmanovich and her workshops have mastered the art of wood marquetry,” explains John Rigas, chairman of Asprey. “The concept of reclaiming fallen wood from the Amazon Forest to create such beautiful surfaces is among the rarest forms of artistic expression and for uniqueness alone it fits into the world of Asprey.”

Asprey has a long tradition of working with unique and specialist artisans, seeking out international talents who are experts in their respective fields. This collection was born from a shared interest in sustainable craft, intricate artistry, and rare technique resulting in an exclusive range of items constructed from native Brazilian wood from the rainforest and decorated with intricate handcut marquetry. The marquetry technique has been seen before at Asprey, but not in this manner. The range of boxes, frames, and poche trays, $1,000 to about $20,000, can be called individual works of art, blending Brazilian and British traditional craftsmanship with a sustainable aspect.

The theme and designs of the Giants of the Amazon collection were chosen by Asprey’s in-house designers and focus on four key flora and fauna motifs: butterflies, birds, and flowers that are the largest of their species living or growing in the Amazon. They are the Giant Waterlily, Blue Morpho Butterfly, Kapok Tree, and Hyacinth Macaw. The sophisticated offerings are made from bark and branches salvaged from the Amazon’s rainforest floor or non-native woods left over from the local furniture industry. The wood elements are washed and soaked in water and minerals, enhancing their natural color and allowing for a variety of bold yet earthy hues in a fully sustainable production process. The marquetry details are created by Brazilian artisans through a lengthy process of assembling and placing the hand-cut wood veneers, finished with silver hinges and edges crafted by the skilled silversmiths in Asprey’s London workshops. ◆