Latest news with #AspreyStudio
Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The £100,000 silver rhino inspired by Dürer
With their fierce horns and tough hides, rhinos have a reputation for being nature's tanks. If that wasn't intimidating enough, now along comes one in silver. A new project from Asprey Studios and the British Museum is reimagining in precious metal the rhinoceros drawn in 1515 by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), the German painter and printmaker who is known as one of the Renaissance's greatest artists. The image, executed as a woodcut, spread widely through Europe, shaping how people thought the rhinoceros looked at a time when most people on the Continent had never seen the animal. That included Dürer. Despite its popularity, Dürer's rhino is inaccurate — showing armour-like anatomy that the real animal lacks. Dürer based his creation on written descriptions of the first rhino seen in Europe since ancient Rome — Ganda, who had been gifted to King Manuel I of Portugal by Sultan Muzaffar Shah II of Gujarat in India. The rhino's arrival in Lisbon prompted great excitement, with reports of it quickly reaching the furthest corners of the Continent. One such report, written by a merchant and circulated as a newsletter, reached Dürer in Nuremberg. Asprey Studio, established in 2021, is a digital and contemporary art gallery, design workshop and members' club that explores the convergence of physical craftsmanship and cutting-edge digital media. Unlike a traditional member's club, Asprey Studio's offering is not tied to a physical space. Instead, special gatherings are held at the Asprey Studio gallery in Mayfair and other global locations. Members enjoy a range of benefits, including early access to events and collections, VIP previews and tours, and the ability to showcase their art collections on a dedicated member gallery wall. As a bold new venture from (but separate to) Asprey — the 244-year-old British luxury jewellery house known for supplying everyone from Queen Victoria to Angelina Jolie — Asprey Studio carries forward a legacy of artisanal excellence while charting new territory in art and design through innovative technology. Dürer's rhinoceros is a case in point. Asprey Studio's master silversmiths have transformed the virtuoso two-dimensional drawing by Dürer into a set of 11 three-dimensional sculptures. They first consulted Dürer's original preparatory sketch in the British Museum. 'Dürer's Rhinoceros is a famous image that has been a part of the cultural imagination for centuries and has inspired countless versions, copies and adaptations,' explains Dr Olenka Horbatsch, the museum's curator of Dutch, Flemish and German prints and drawings. 'Dürer's Rhinoceros is one of the most iconic drawings and woodcuts in European art history. His artistic mastery remains unmatched,' adds Alastair Walker, the chief creative officer of Asprey Studio. 'We have added Asprey Studio's dimension to it, one that we hope inspires people too.' Each 40cm-long sculpture is made up of 90 individually crafted pieces of silver — and each of those pieces is worked using a variety of tech-forward techniques. 'We have used digital sculpting to replace traditional clay so several sculptors can work on it and work out how it will come together in production,' Walker explains. The number of pieces involved in each sculpture is unusual for a product made from silver. The piece's complex composition was one of the drivers behind the methods used. 'Each piece is precision arc-welded and meticulously hammered using classic anticlastic raising techniques [hammering metal over curved stakes in a way that causes the metal to curve in two opposite directions] with intricate hand engraving.' Asprey Studio's particular work combines digital innovation with longstanding technical know-how, with 'the finishing techniques that have been handed down from years of experience, that only Asprey Studio's silversmiths have mastered,' Walker says. The complex nature of the design and production meant that the first sculpture took eight months to produce in the Asprey Studio workshop in Kent. This sculpture has already sold for £300,000. Production of that sculpture allowed the silversmiths to learn what worked and what didn't — meaning that production time for subsequent sculptures has reduced to between three to six months. Of the remaining ten sculptures, only four will be available to purchase, each priced at £100,0000, the other six having already been snapped up by private collectors. The fate of Dürer's living inspiration was less sparkling. Set to fight an elephant by King Manuel — the 'armour' in which the rhino was clad for this spectacle may have been what confused Dürer's depiction — Ganda was subsequently packed of to Rome as a gift for Pope Leo X, although the boat sank and Ganda drowned on the way. To inquire about the sculptures, email info@
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Apple designer reveals delightful icon collection
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Legendary designer Susan Kare has debuted a series of 32 new handcrafted icons in a charming collection of enamelled computer keys and wearable art. Best known as the creative behind Apple's original Macintosh icons, Susan's legacy as one of the most famous graphic designers has continued to influence the creative sphere, adding a unique human feel to the conventional world of tech design. If you don't recognise Susan's name, you'll likely be familiar with her timeless icon designs, such as the Happy Mac, the nostalgic floppy disk, and even the humble trash can. Since her legendary work with Apple in the 1980s, Susan has continued to pioneer the design world, building human-led creative solutions for countless clients. Now, her latest collection ushers in the opportunity to own a slice of design history, celebrating the intersection of art, technology, and intricate craftsmanship. Created in collaboration with Asprey Studio, the Esc Keys collection features a series of playful pixel art icons – from love hearts to 8-bit aliens. The unique icons are available as enamelled silver or gold vermeil computer keys or wearable art, and each piece is paired with a digital artwork inscribed on the blockchain to ensure ownership and provenance. While each of the 32 designs has unique symbolism, some have a more personal tie to Susan's life. The collection's 'panic!' key references the playful button on her original keyboard as "a lighthearted reminder of the need to escape the pressures of modern society," while the 'Esc' key is reimagined as a symbol of escapism, informing the wider theme of the joyous collection. Find out more about the Esc Keys collection on the Asprey Studios website. For more design inspiration take a look at these beautiful enamel pins that are a treat for literature fans or check out the top skills to help designers get ahead in 2025 according to the experts.
