Craftsmanship is a slow and patient art, fusing knowledge and imagination to reveal one’s true self to others. My way of doing this is by creating globes, and my most recent collaboration with Asprey London has opened a dialogue that reflects exactly this.

Our cultures share traditions and artisanal excellence, and, in recent months, a new project has brought me to their London workshop, inspiring a day of design and elegant luxury to celebrate Asprey’s 245th anniversary.

Craftsmanship In Between Traditions

Asprey London is known to many as an extraordinary boutique, jewellery store and a symbol of British luxury.

From silver-work, leather goods, and other objets of art, the company has built a captivating reputation for craftsmanship and meticulous refinements over the centuries, simultaneously serving royal families, collectors, and lovers of fine products.

Sketch of the Asprey's engraving that will be placed on the globe later on
Sketch of the Asprey's engraving that will be placed on the globe later on

This milestone highlights longevity and the ability to evolve with the world and its rhythms and changes, without ever losing its values.

Asprey's recent focus on creative collaborations remains faithful to those matters, bringing together creators from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, with the aim of reinterpreting the concept of luxury through contemporary lenses.

Our relationship actually began two years ago, fueled by a shared desire to create an object that would honour the company on its 245th anniversary.

Although starting from a simple idea, the goal was quite ambitious: to combine my Venetian-style globes with British craftsmanship, something I discovered is what I do best. In fact, my entire work is based on complementing cultures through worlds that can be seen and touched.

This project is a conversation between interconnected histories; the resources used and the techniques I brought, inspired by the great genius of Vincenzo Coronelli, allowed me to create something truly unique.

Combining science, art, and raw materials brought a sculptural dimension that elevated the work even further from its original design, transforming it into a project with unprecedented creative foundations.

Engraving, Printing, and Hand‑Colouring

The resulting globe is drawn directly from an ancient Venetian legacy, the Epitome Cosmografica, conceiving the surface as an interactive space, where geography and history intersect.

For this edition, I wanted to coordinate the globe's pigments with those of Asprey's bespoke base, accentuating every minute detail through painting.

Asprey enhanced the sphere in their workshop, which was a positive experience that allowed me to see and enter a world of silver elements. Every stroke, symbol, and detail helped expose a story that extends across continents and oceans.

Ocean-inspired silver base made by the Asprey team
Ocean-inspired silver base made by the Asprey team

Engraving, printing, and handmade colouring are techniques dating back centuries, yet they still shape the quality brought by so many artisans from around the world.

This globe has become an informative and expressive object, inviting the viewer to read it slowly, discovering how one might explore a manuscript or a painting. Art and cartography come together in a dance of colours, a clear and harmonious essence.

I was certainly the medium that brought the sphere to life, but Asprey was the one who ensured it stood upright, designing the base in a combination of blue stone and silver.

This was a thoughtful choice to evoke the depth and immensity of the ocean, with elements that seem almost in motion, thanks to their relationship with light and refinement.

The base is, as a matter of fact, an integral part of the sculptural work. Through its curvilinear composition, it echoes the geometry of the world, creating a balance between the weight of the material and visual lightness.

The mastery it was crafted in reflects the ability to use precious resources and transform them into pieces of contemporary art.

A Limited Edition of Six

To mark Asprey's anniversary, the globe was produced in a limited edition of just six, reinforcing its importance as a piece of history, meant to be passed down, studied, and treasured.

Each sphere was individually finished, resulting in the creation of unique objects through colour variations. These variations became an integral part of their identity, and it was all the work of a human hand.

Leonardo Frigo working on the custom-made globe for Asprey London
Leonardo Frigo working on the custom-made globe for Asprey London

To conclude, we officially presented the project to the public during a press day at Asprey's London atelier.

It was a privilege to enthusiastically share the story behind our collaboration with journalists from the art and luxury sectors. This gave them a closer look at the techniques and creativity that inspired the work.

We discussed the entire creative process, from the initial sketches to the engraving and etchings of the plates, to the hand-painted work, culminating in the stunning silver base.

The atelier setting provided the perfect backdrop to explain how tradition and innovation coexist in a project like this. This allowed for a profound and engaging conversation, demonstrating a genuine curiosity about the meaning of craftsmanship today.

Contemporary Vision

Ultimately, this bespoke project represents a meeting point between contemporary creativity inspired by centuries of history and luxury craftsmanship that resonates today.

The globe is a symbol of travel, knowledge, and curiosity: values ​​that resonate deeply with both my Venetian roots and the boutique's British heritage.

This connection with Asprey London has opened my eyes to a shared vision and has allowed me to once again create an object of great significance in the eyes of many. In this way, we have succeeded in uniting the spirits of two different cultures.

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