Trophy with cover, The Nelson Yacht Club Grand Challenge Cup 1858
Maker
George Richards Elkington
Production date
1856-1857
Description
Sterling silver trophy with cover, silver-gilt interiors, engraved “The Nelson Yacht Club Grand Challenge Cup 1858” and “Won by Cutter Red Jacket two years in succession 1869 & 1870, built by Day Brothers.”
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Object Detail
These are significant examples of English and very probably NZ silver sporting trophies. The Nelson Cup is a spectacular example of high Victorian design by one of the foremost London gold and silversmith firms; further research is required to establish the maker of the 1868 Wellington Anniversary Regatta, but it is very likely to be a local (Wellington silversmith, previously unrecorded). Additionally (Peoples of Waitaha/Canterbury) they represent a link with Canterbury’s early yachting history and one of its most famous yachts – Red Jacket was built by the Day Brothers (Joseph and Alfred) at Sumner ca 1865-8 as an open boat in clinker with a square stern, but was soon altered with the addition of a deck and an elliptical stern as shown in the photo. Red Jacket was 25 feet long overall, was 22 feet on the waterline, had a 6 foot beam and drew 4’ 9 inches. “She was fitted with a sliding lead weight which was hauled to windward by block and tackle…She was brought to Wellington in 1874 by a Mr Tabuteau and, after going ashore at Kaiwarra, in 1876, was bought and refurbished by George Martin, Will Renner and Fred Gannaway…Red Jacket was broken up in the ‘90s” (“The Pet”, Harold Kidd, 1991, Bearings, Vol 3, No. 4, pp. 9-10). Joseph Day was a very well-known early Canterbury identity, being the Pilot at Sumner for many years.
Measurement (HxWxD): 2 - Cover: 170 x 230 x 230mm
1869 and 1870
1869 and 1870
Together with a prize purse of 50 guineas, it was to be awarded for “the great event” of the January 1858 regatta, a 14 mile (22.5 km) course in Tasman Bay. The catch was that, to retain the trophy permanently, the yacht had to win the race two years in a row. The first race ended in a bitter legal dispute between two rival claimants and the event was abandoned until 1861.
The challenge was finally met by Red Jacket in the Boxing Day Regattas of 1869 and 1870. The Nelson Evening Mail described the 1870 race as “the great event of the day” with “the formidable little Red Jacket fast outstripping all the other competitors...At the conclusion of the regatta, the Cup, together with a handsome silken flag, bearing the letters N.C.C., was presented to Mr Day, the fortunate owner of the Red Jacket, by Mr C. Elliott, on the balcony of the Ship Hotel…amid the cheers of the people and the strains of “See the conquering hero comes” from the band, and, having been filled with champagne, success was drunk to the Regatta Committee, and to all who had participated in the day’s proceedings."
10514
Marks/Inscriptions: “Won by Cutter Red Jacket two years in succession 1869 & 1870, built by Day Brothers.”; Type of mark: Inscription and Date; Method: Engraved; Notes: on the back
Marks/Inscriptions: GRE; Type of mark: Hallmarks; Method: embossed; Notes: the hall mark of George Richards Elkington for Elkington & Co.
Marks/Inscriptions: GRE; Type of mark: Hallmarks; Method: embossed; Notes: the hall mark of George Richards Elkington for Elkington & Co.
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