Asprey of London & the Golden Age of Motoring: A Rare 1920s Begging Scottie Dog Mascot
Exploring a rare circa 1920s solid bronze automobile radiator mascot by Asprey of London, modelled as a begging Scottish Terrier with historic plated finish, original mounting fittings and documented Richard Edmonds Auctions provenance.
During the opening decades of the 20th century, the motor car became far more than a means of transport. For affluent owners it represented modernity, independence and personal taste, and one of the most distinctive ways to individualise an automobile was through the radiator mascot.
Our latest arrival is a particularly charming survivor from this period: a rare circa 1920s Asprey of London solid bronze motor car radiator mascot, modelled as a Scottish Terrier sitting upright in the begging position.
At approximately 12.5 cm high yet weighing just under 700 grams, the mascot is remarkably substantial for its size and combines the worlds of Asprey, early British motoring, canine sculpture and Scottish Terrier collecting.
The Begging Scottish Terrier
The immediate appeal of the mascot lies in its animated pose.
Rather than standing conventionally on all four legs, the Scottie balances upon its hindquarters with both forepaws raised before its chest in the familiar begging position.
The pointed ears rise prominently above the head, while the elongated muzzle and projecting tail create an immediately recognisable silhouette when the mascot is viewed from either side.
The individual paws are carefully articulated and the unusual upright posture gives the mascot a playful, almost anthropomorphic quality without losing the essential characteristics of the breed.
Modelling the Scottie's Wiry Coat
Particular attention has been devoted to the surface of the bronze.
Closely spaced incised lines travel across the head, chest, shoulders, back, abdomen, legs and tail. Their direction changes with the contours of the body, creating a convincing impression of the coarse, wiry coat associated with the Scottish Terrier.
These details give the mascot considerable sculptural presence despite its compact dimensions.
More Than an Automobile Accessory
Although originally designed to ornament a motor car, the quality of the modelling allows the Scottie to be appreciated independently today as an antique canine sculpture. Its compact scale makes it particularly suited to display on a desk, library shelf, collector's cabinet or within a collection of historic automobilia.
Asprey of London & Luxury Motoring
British Luxury Meets the Motor Car
Asprey has long occupied an important position within the history of British luxury goods, becoming internationally associated with finely made jewellery, silver, accessories and objects for an affluent clientele.
The development of motoring during the early 20th century created an entirely new field for luxury accessories.
As the automobile became an expression of status and personal taste, motorists increasingly sought distinctive objects with which to individualise their vehicles.
Radiator mascots became one of the most visible expressions of this culture.
Subjects ranged from allegorical figures and sporting emblems to birds and animals. Dogs were particularly effective because individual breeds could communicate character and personality immediately.
The present Scottish Terrier belongs firmly within this tradition of British luxury automobilia.
Bronze, Plating & a Century of Patina
The mascot is substantially cast in solid bronze and retains areas of its historic silver-coloured plated finish.
Approximately a century of age and use has naturally worn the plating across projecting surfaces, revealing warmer bronze tones beneath.
The nose, paws and circumference of the circular mounting base display particularly evident wear, while darker oxidation and patination remain within the recessed modelling.
Rather than disguising this history, the variations in the surface contribute considerably to the mascot's character and provide a tangible connection with its original life as an automobile accessory.
The Original Automobile Mounting Survives
An especially interesting feature survives beneath the circular base.
The substantial threaded fixing stud, nut and associated mounting components remain present.
These mechanical elements provide direct physical evidence of the object's original automotive purpose and distinguish it from a bronze Scottie created purely as a decorative sculpture.
Solid Bronze
The mascot is substantially cast and weighs just under 700 grams despite measuring only approximately 12.5 cm high.
Original Function
The surviving threaded fixing assembly preserves clear evidence of the mascot's intended installation upon a motor car.
Historic Finish
Areas of silver-coloured plating survive alongside exposed bronze and naturally developed oxidation.
Scottish Terrier
The pointed ears, elongated muzzle, compact body and wiry coat create the unmistakable silhouette of the Scottie.
The Recorded Asprey A Mark
The mascot has an important documented auction history.
Richard Edmonds Auctions Limited offered this exact example at Chippenham, Wiltshire, on 5 March 2023 as Lot 332.
The auction house catalogued it as:
Our subsequent examination requires an important qualification.
The circular base displays extensive historic rubbing, scratching, abrasion and losses to the plated finish.
Although numerous incised and abraded marks remain around its circumference, we cannot presently identify the reported “A” with sufficient certainty to describe it as clearly legible today.
For transparency, the mark is therefore recorded as part of the Richard Edmonds Auctions catalogue history rather than represented as something we can independently read on the mascot today.
Other Asprey Begging Scottie Mascots
Comparative research provides further context for the identification.
Sworders, 2019
An Asprey cast-bronze car mascot specifically modelled as a begging Scottie dog was offered by Sworders in its 20th Century Design auction in January 2019.
Circa 1920/30 Comparison
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 examples provide useful comparative evidence for the Asprey identification, Scottish Terrier subject and inter-war dating of the present mascot.
No documentary evidence has presently been identified establishing how many examples of the model were originally produced. We therefore do not describe the design as a documented limited edition.
Canine Mascots & the Golden Age of Motoring
Dogs occupy an especially interesting position within the history of early automobile mascots.
One celebrated British example was associated with King Edward VII's Wire-haired Fox Terrier, Caesar. A circa 1905 Caesar mascot with royal association was subsequently sold by Bonhams in Carmel, California, in 2009.
The royal Caesar mascot represents a different breed and design from the present Scottish Terrier, and no royal provenance or association with King Edward VII is claimed for this Asprey mascot.
Its relevance lies instead in demonstrating how canine subjects had become established within automobile-mascot culture from the earliest years of luxury motoring.
A Documented Auction Provenance
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.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Acquired from the above sale and subsequently researched and catalogued.
The original Richard Edmonds Auctions documentation has been retained as part of the object's continuing provenance record.
Object Details
Why Historic Motor Mascots Matter
Radiator mascots preserve a fascinating intersection between sculpture, design and automotive history.
They document a period when the motor car was becoming an important expression of personal identity and when even functional automotive components could become opportunities for luxury craftsmanship.
Asprey
The association with one of Britain's best-known luxury houses gives the mascot particular interest within the history of British decorative objects.
Automobilia
The surviving mounting components preserve a direct physical connection with the mascot's original use on a motor car.
Canine Sculpture
The begging Scottie combines breed-specific modelling with an engaging pose that allows it to be appreciated independently as sculpture.
A Small Object with Remarkable Presence
At approximately 12.5 cm high, the mascot occupies very little physical space, yet its upright posture and substantial bronze construction give it considerable visual presence.
Its appeal therefore extends beyond the specialist classic-car collector.
From Motor Car to Collector's Cabinet
The Scottie would sit naturally within a study, library, home office or collector's cabinet, particularly alongside antique books, silver, leather, bronze sculpture or other objects connected with British design and motoring history.
Its compact proportions also make it particularly suitable for an interior where a historically interesting object is desired without requiring significant display space.
Condition & Presentation
The mascot presents with extensive authentic surface character consistent with its age and original automotive use.
There is historic rubbing, scratching, scuffing, oxidation and general surface wear throughout.
The silver-coloured plated finish has worn through in numerous areas, exposing warmer bronze beneath, particularly around the muzzle, paws and circumference of the circular mounting base.
Darkened patination and oxidation remain within recessed areas and amongst the incised coat detailing.
The “A” stamp recorded by Richard Edmonds Auctions in 2023 is not presently clearly distinguishable amid this surface wear.
The threaded mounting stud, nut and associated components remain present and display corresponding age-related oxidation and wear.
No invasive metallurgical examination or scientific analysis of the bronze alloy or plated finish has been undertaken. The available photographs form an integral part of the condition description.
Research, Attribution & Provenance
The identification of the mascot as an Asprey of London example is supported by its documented Richard Edmonds Auctions catalogue history and comparative examples of Asprey Scottie motor mascots.
The circa 1920s dating corresponds with the previous auction attribution and documented inter-war comparisons.
The reported “A” mark is deliberately treated conservatively. It was recorded by Richard Edmonds Auctions in 2023 but cannot presently be identified with sufficient certainty during our visual examination.
Future documentary discoveries, technical examination or specialist research may refine the present interpretation.
A Continuing Provenance
The history of an object continues long after the period in which it was created.
Marks, auction records, mounting hardware, photographs and subsequent research all become part of its developing history.
For this mascot, the Richard Edmonds Auctions documentation preserves its recorded appearance as Lot 332 on 5 March 2023.
Its acquisition and subsequent research by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® now form the next documented stage within that continuing record.
Its future owner will become another custodian within that history.
Discover the Rare Asprey Begging Scottie Dog Motor Car Mascot
View the complete catalogue entry, comparative research, provenance, dimensions, condition information and additional photographs of this rare circa 1920s British automobile mascot.
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