Thursday, February 10, 2011

And the Trophy goes to...


Our team loves searching high and low for that one stand out "Find" that sets you apart from the rest.  The thrill of the hunt, and the treasure at the end, is so much of what it's about and of course recounting the stories to just how filthy dirty you got,  how far you traveled, and even sometimes how you overpaid for the item, make it even better. 

As a young girl I never won any trophies, thus I don't have my own personal collection. However, I do get to move and clean my daughter's, she has from years of playing soccer. Up until now, I haven't had any particular interest in trophies.  But this past week, that all changed.  I became crazy after seeing this stunning trophy from a bike race circa 1890 amongst many other beautiful trophies. I became a woman on a mission, as I climbed up and over numerous spider webbed shelves, with God knows what else lurking below me.... as I hunted.



 Antique silver trophies in a grouping with creamy antique vellum books..... it doesn't get any prettier than that!






I love this small trophy cup with the religious figure on the front dated 1855.



I'm crazy over this bowling trophy.  The 3 dimensional bowler is amazing!



105 years later and this trophy is still as beautiful as ever.



A few of them are "triple" handled trophies, which I had never seen before from the Victorian Era.  It's dated 1909 and is very rare.



The perfect trophy for the perfect Valentine.  Take notice of the heart on the front.



How about a Regatta cup from 1902?



And last but definitely not least..... this 1890 Bicycle Trophy with a handmade bicycle on the bottom.
This alone was worth every foot that I climbed and every cobweb that stuck to me.



Isn't it magnificent?




It dazzles me to think of the athletes that worked so hard to achieve something great, whom once held these trophies in their hands full of pride and great achievement.  


I've began to wonder how they placed them in their homes.  Were they filled with flowers or just placed on a mantle?  So many uses, yet so full of beauty.  The possibilities are endless.
Please share with us how you've used antique trophies in your home or office?

Have a wonderful end to your week!




15 comments:

  1. These are wonderful! I especially love the Bicycle, and the triple handles.

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  2. Beautiful display! Love, love, love the books with them!
    No antique trophies in our house, but I'm definitely going to be hunting for some now!

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  3. OMG, these are just fabulous!! I've collected old trophies for years, but you found some really great ones and within a short time frame, wow! The bicycle one is my fav as my husband collects old bikes. And, the books, what a perfect marriage these two are. Just great!

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  4. what a gorgeous post. They are stunning. I have to go searching for some of those. The bicycle trophy is a great find. Love how it was all put together.

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  5. Beautiful!!
    I love old trophies!! I have my own small collection, but these are amazing.
    You are amazing for finding them.
    Rosemary

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  6. Gorgeous. You didn't have these when I stopped by last week!

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  7. Be still my heart, there are so many beautiful ones I would still be there trying to decide. Love it with the flowers in it.

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  8. These are fabulous. Trophies are my ab-fab thing to find, but oh-so-rare. A fellow dealer I know specializes in vintage sporting equipment and has the most amazing trophies. Good for you for finding these. Can we get the story about finding them? XOX

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  9. I love old trophies and have been looking, but in Australia I have real difficulty in finding any. These ones you have found are just so inspiring. Lucky you! Love this post!

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  10. I also love the old trophies and have been lucky to find two for myself. I keep a collection of vintage silver flatware in mine. You found some great ones and I would have climbed over spider webs for these too.

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  11. That is a stunning collection of such unique trophies! I only have two, but hope to find more. I tend to use them on my mantel and right now they each are holding an oversized pinecone.

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  12. Beautiful - love the patina on these. Would never have thought of displaying something like this ... until now!
    Liz

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  13. These are some of the best I've seen and I've "handled" quite a few in my day.
    Debbie

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  14. Wonderful, wonderful finds....!
    Most especially the bicycle one...YUMMMMMMMMY...oh yes.
    I could find a spot for some of the others too.

    Don't we find "new" passions every now and again...that suprise us ? And then WHERE to display our lovely treasures.
    HA..at least in my case !
    But we find the room don't we ?
    WHAT is that...that makes us so passionate about this dumb olde stuff ???

    Rose

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