Fine antique silver-gilt vase & cover nautical trophy by royal silversmith

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Category

Trophies & Awards

Maker

John Samuel Hunt

Reference

7269

Fine quality, two-handled, antique silver-gilt racing trophy decorated with nautical motifs and featuring a period inscription.

The silver-gilt vase and cover are beautifully hand chased. The cover, with its domed centre and cast and applied floral border, is surmounted by a splendid cast and hand chased model of a dolphin; a detachable finial.

The trophy vase's vine pattern handles are also cast and hand chased in fine detail. There are panels on either side surrounded by scrollwork; one is plain, the other panel inscribed with:

The Gift of
L Attwood Esq MP
to the
Lyme Regis & Charmouth Regatta
18 August 1846

It is evident that in Victorian Lyme Regatta Day was the high point of the season for both inhabitants and visitors. Traditionally held in August, Lyme Regis Annual Regatta Day started around 1825; its forerunner in 1810 being a boat race held once a year. Yacht races were the main feature of these early regattas and in 1847 there were three such races with silver cups to the value of £100 being presented to the gentlemen winners, races for trawl boats and rowing matches included.

Competitors competed for generous prize money and sponsorship of regattas was viewed as a civic obligation, contributions coming from gentlemen and principal tradesmen of the town.

In 1889 the regatta was discontinued, but resurrected in 1898 and incorporated an extensive schedule of sailing and rowing races. Lyme ketches competed for the Earl De La Warr's silver cup and £10 of shared prize money and The Dorset Challenge Cup race involved open sail boats. Both races stipulated 'The cup to be won two years by the same boat before becoming the property of the winner'. Lyme and Charmouth were pitted against each other in sailing and rowing events.

From Ebb and Flow The Story Of Maritime Lyme Regis by Peter Lacey