R&Y Augousti Shagreen and Snake Skin Decorative Box
ABOUT
An original R&Y Augousti decorative wooden box with Shagreen surrounded by a snakeskin inlay. Velvet lined insert.
Acquired from the John Traina estate. Mr. Traina was a San Francisco philanthropist, vintner and world-renowned Fabergé collector.
- CREATOR R&Y Augousti, Paris.
- DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1990-1999.
- MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Shagreen (shark or sting ray skin), Snake Skin, Wood, Velvet.
- CONDITION Good. Wear consistent with age and use.
- DIMENSIONS H 2.5 in. W 7.25 in. D 7.25 in.
HISTORY
John Traina: Mr. Traina, born in San Francisco on Sept. 26, 1931, was the son of a homemaker who loved opera and a father who ran a candy business sold to See's Candies just before the 1906 earthquake. He attended local schools and graduated from Stanford University. He was a longtime shipping line executive, first running the passenger division of American President Lines, then working for Prudential Cruises and Grace Cruises. He began the Pearl Cruises, the first Western cruise line to sail to China. The line was used for an episode of the popular 1970s TV series "The Love Boat" with stars Ursula Andress, John Forsythe and Linda Evans, according to Trevor Traina.
Mr. Traina was married to the best-selling author Danielle Steel. Together, they raised eight children together.
R&Y Augousti: Acclaimed design duo Ria & Yiouri Augousti have established themselves since the 1990’s as pioneers of modern-vintage style through their luxurious Art Deco inspired collections.
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique.
All shagreen covered items should be kept out of direct sunlight, color variants may occur on the stingray and other exotic finishes, but this showcases the Parisian label's commitment to creating authentic luxurious products using natural components.
