Asprey of London Bronze Scottish Terrier Motor Mascot

1920s Asprey of London Bronze Scottish Terrier Motor Mascot A rare British bronze automobile radiator mascot by Asprey of London, modelled as a begging Scottish Terrier with historic plated finish, surviving mounting hardware and documented Richard Edmonds Auctions provenance. Highlights: • Asprey of London • British, circa 1920s • Original antique motor car radiator mascot • Begging Scottish Terrier or Scottie dog • Solid cast bronze construction • Historic silver-coloured plated finish • Detailed incised modelling of the wiry coat • Upright pose with both forepaws raised • Integral circular radiator mounting base • Threaded fixing stud, nut and mounting components retained • Documented Richard Edmonds Auctions provenance • Catalogued in 2023 as “stamped A to rear of base” • Reported “A” not presently clearly distinguishable amid historic surface wear • Comparative Asprey Scottie automobile mascots documented • Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution included Introduction A rare British motor car radiator mascot by Asprey of London, dating to circa 1920s and modelled as a Scottish Terrier sitting upright in the engaging begging position. Cast in substantial solid bronze, the Scottie rests upon its hindquarters with both front paws raised before its chest. Its pointed ears, elongated muzzle, compact body and projecting tail give the model the instantly recognisable character of the breed. The bronze has been extensively worked with fine incised lines to reproduce the Scottie's distinctive wiry coat. Areas of the historic silver-coloured plated finish remain, contrasting with warmer bronze exposed through age and use and darker patination retained within the recessed modelling. The mascot also retains important evidence of its original automotive function. Beneath the integral circular base are the threaded mounting stud, nut and associated components used to secure the mascot to a motor car. Documented auction provenance provides further historical context. The present mascot was offered by Richard Edmonds Auctions Limited in March 2023 as Lot 332 and identified as a rare 1920s Asprey of London solid bronze car mascot. Catalogue Details: Maker/Retailer: Asprey of London Origin: England Date: Circa 1920s Object: Motor car radiator mascot Subject: Begging Scottish Terrier / Scottie dog Material: Solid cast bronze Finish: Historic silver-coloured plated finish Mounting: Integral circular base with threaded fixing stud, nut and associated components Recorded mark: Richard Edmonds Auctions catalogued the mascot in 2023 as “stamped A to rear of base” Present status of mark: Reported “A” not presently clearly distinguishable amid extensive historic surface wear Catalogue Note: The begging pose gives this small automobile mascot considerable sculptural character. The Scottie rises almost vertically from its hindquarters with both front legs bent and raised before the body. The pointed ears frame the head, while the projecting muzzle and extended tail create a distinctive profile. Particular attention has been devoted to the coat. Closely worked linear incisions extend across the head, chest, shoulders, back, abdomen, legs and tail. Their changing direction follows the contours of the animal and creates a convincing impression of the coarse, wiry coat associated with the Scottish Terrier. The individual paws and toes have been carefully articulated, while the raised forelegs introduce an appealing humorous quality. The aged surface provides an additional layer of visual interest. Surviving silver-coloured plating contrasts with areas where wear has exposed the warmer bronze beneath. Darkened oxidation and patination within the recessed detailing further emphasise the modelling. The substantial threaded mounting arrangement beneath the base confirms the mascot's original purpose as an automobile fitting rather than simply a decorative bronze dog sculpture. Asprey of London: Asprey has long been associated with British luxury goods and finely made objects for an international clientele. The development of automobile ownership during the early decades of the 20th century created a new market for luxury motoring accessories. Radiator mascots became a particularly visible form of personalisation, allowing motorists to decorate their vehicles with miniature sculptural subjects. Dogs proved especially popular, with individual breeds offering recognisable silhouettes and allowing motorists to express humour, personality or affection for a particular breed. The present Scottish Terrier belongs to this tradition of British luxury automobilia. The Begging Scottie Motor Mascot: The Scottish Terrier's distinctive appearance translates particularly effectively into small-scale sculpture. Its erect ears, elongated muzzle, compact proportions and wiry coat are all clearly represented here. The unusual begging position adds further character. Both forepaws are raised while the animal balances upon its hindquarters, creating an animated silhouette that would have been particularly effective when mounted prominently upon the radiator of a period motor car. Today, the quality and personality of the modelling allow the mascot to be appreciated equally as an antique canine sculpture and as a piece of historic automobilia. The Recorded “A” Mark When Richard Edmonds Auctions Limited offered this exact mascot in March 2023, it was catalogued as: “A rare 1920s Asprey of London solid bronze car mascot of a begging dog, stamped A to rear of base, approx. 4 1/2" tall.” The circular base now displays extensive historic rubbing, scratching, abrasion and losses to the plated finish. Although numerous marks remain visible around its circumference, the reported “A” cannot presently be identified with sufficient certainty by us upon visual examination. The mark is therefore recorded as part of the documented Richard Edmonds auction description rather than represented as clearly legible today. Comparable Asprey Mascots: Research has identified other documented Asprey Scottie automobile mascots. A particularly relevant comparison is an Asprey cast-bronze car mascot modelled as a begging Scottie dog offered by Sworders in its 20th Century Design auction in January 2019. A further Scottie radiator mascot has been documented on the specialist market as a circa 1920/30 chromed-bronze example bearing an ASPREY stamp. These comparisons provide useful support for the Asprey identification, Scottish Terrier subject and inter-war dating of the present mascot. No documentary evidence has presently been identified establishing a specific original production quantity. No claim is therefore made that the model formed part of a documented limited edition. Provenance: Richard Edmonds Auctions Limited, Chippenham, Wiltshire, 5 March 2023, Lot 332, catalogued as A rare 1920s Asprey of London solid bronze car mascot of a begging dog, stamped A to rear of base, approx. 4 1/2" tall. Acquired from the above sale. Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. Original Richard Edmonds Auctions documentation retained. Threaded mounting fitting, nut and associated components present beneath the base. Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution: The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record. Attribution and Research: The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market. These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.