Henley on Yarra Challenge Cups
Return to Henley on Yarra Challenge Cups
Stewards' Challenge Cup
History
At the inaugural meeting of the Association held at "Dunraven", Clendon Road, Toorak, the residence of George Fairbairn, on 6 May 1903, it was agreed that "subscriptions be invited for the purpose of securing Challenge Cups; that the rules be those of the Henley-on-Thames Regatta and that the Cups be a facsimile of those rowed-for at Henley.
Description
A two-handled sterling silver cup, replicating the Stewards' Challenge Cup, a perpetual trophy awarded at Henley Royal Regatta. The cup has a campana shaped bowl supported on a circular base by a baluster shaped stem, with a flat mushroom knop beneath the bowl. The cast handles represent fruiting vines in the form of a scroll. The double-domed cover is surmounted by a winged female figure holding aloft a laurel wreath. The stem and the bowl are decorated by embossing with stylistic representation of water, aquatic plants and other foliage and fruit. The foliate decoration on the upper portion of the bowl is integrated with embossed geometric designs. The central portion of the cover is embossed with foliage and fruit within a geometric design. The foot rim, the stem knop and the cover rim are each decorated with a chased band of leaves. On the front of the bowl, foliage encircles an embossed inscription "STEWARDS CHALLENGE CUP" and on the rear is embossed the Melbourne Amateur Regatta Association emblem.
Marks
The hallmarks for Sheffield 1903/4 and the Makers' Mark for Walker & Hall are struck on the bowl and cover.
Return to Henley on Yarra Challenge Cups