A Victorian silver presentation racing trophy

Please note: the total length on the plinth is 63.5cm, not 63.5oz as previously stated.

A Victorian silver presentation racing trophy, The Warwick Cup,

by the Barnards, London 1874,

modelled as a classical chariot pulled by four horses, the standing charioteer with the reins in one hand and whip in the other, the chariot with honeysuckle decoration, the wheels with central lion mask motifs, mounted on a bronzed base on an ebonised plinth applied with a plaque inscribed 'The Warwick Cup 1874', the reverse with a plaque inscribed 'Won by Lilian 5 Years Old', total height on plinth (excluding whip) 54cm, total length on plinth 63.5cm.

Provenance:

William Gilbert, racehorse trainer.

Ducker Gilbert.

William Ducker Gilbert, Saddle maker.

and then by family descent to the current owner.

In 1874 William Gilbert trained a 5 year old grey mare, Lilian, for Henry Savile to win the Warwick Cup at Warwick on September 9th. The owner of the horse was recorded as his daughter Miss Savile who was said to be so pleased with the win that she gave the trophy to her trainer.

William Gilbert also trained Cremorne, again for Henry Savile, which won the 1872 Derby, with the jockey C. Maidment.

William Ducker Gilbert, was the grandson of William Gilbert. He was apprenticed to Harriet Boyce as a saddler. He went on to open a Saddlers shop was in Newmarket High Street, which closed in the 1960's.

For a similar chariot see Fallon, J. House of Barnard, Authors on Line Ltd, 2012, pages 344 and 344. This was commissioned in 1869 from Barnard and Sons as part of a consignment of six racing trophies to Colonel W.W.Anderson, political agent, at Kattywar, Bombay for presentation as prizes at the Katywar races of 1869.

The ledger book mentions that 'it was mounted on a bronzed ground'.