Fine Silver & Objects of Vertu - 28th October 2015
Lot 575
A massive late-Victorian two-handled silver trophy cup and cover
Estimate £5,000 - £7,000 | Hammer £8000
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Description
A massive late-Victorian two-handled silver trophy cup and cover,
by Elkington and Co, Birmingham 1894,
circular form, foliate girdle with roses, above acanthus leaf decoration, scroll handles terminating in stags' heads, the pull-off cover with a stylised border and with a detachable unmarked finial of a gentleman holding a gun, possibly electroplate, on a raised circular foot with foliate decoration, standing on a raised circular ebonised plinth applied with a silver plaque inscribed 'Pigeon Shooting DEC 15th & 18th 1897 World Championship Cup and £100, at Hendon, Won by J. Blake, total height on plinth 100cm,, approx. weighable 193oz.
This cup is sold with an original card inscribed ' Pigeon Shooting Championship. This cup for the championship of the World for winged shooting with £100 added money be shot for at the Welsh Harp, Hendon on Wednesday and Thursday the 15th and 16th December. For full particulars see 'Sportsman' Public admitted to the ground on payment. Won by Mr. J. Blake, Park Villia, Tiverton.'
Mr Joe Blake of Tiverton beat 110 other competitors to win this £200 trophy cup and £100, by shooting fifteen pigeon in a row. The runner-up was Mr. F. Gibbs. Mr Blake won many competitions and became a local celebrity. His name was used in an advert in the Shooting Times and British Sportsman on 12 August 1899 by Charles Boswell practical Gunmaker.
This lot is sold with some photocopies of contemporary newspaper articles about Joe Blake.