Leopard Antiques Antique Silver & Enamel Sailing Yacht Large Matchbox Cover - America's Cup, The Shamrock 1899

Antique Silver & Enamel Sailing Yacht Large Matchbox Cover - America's Cup, The Shamrock 1899	Order Form Request more information

Reference: S11533 Period: Victorian Year: 1899 Silversmith: Andrew Barrett & Sons Place: London Price: $ 2 750.00 Weight: 100 grams Dimensions: 7.5 cm by 5.4 cm, height 3.3 cm Condition: Enamel very good, no chips or cracks, light scratches from use. Some small dents to silver body (base, side and 1 corner), one ball foot slightly compressed. Description: A very interesting Victorian silver and enamel match box cover (the rarer large size for table rather than pocket matches), featuring the yacht "The Shamrock", it was the unsuccessful Irish challenger for the 1899 America's Cup in New York, against Columbia owned by JP Morgan. The yacht was owned by Sir Thomas Lipton (of Lipton Tea fame) of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, together they challenged for the prestigious America's Cup 5 times. The Matchbox cover is the usual rectangular shape, with open end, and side strike holes, it sits on 4 silver ball feet. The quality of the enamel picture is outstanding, you can see 12 individual sailors on the deck, good detail in the sails and rigging, a flying red pennant, with a background of blue green sea, cloudy blue sky and land in the distance. The enamel also quite helpfully reads "THE SHAMROCK 1899", so no doubt as to which magnificent yacht this is. The hallmarks on the side are lightly struck and worn, but just legible makers mark AB&S. The base is clearly stamped "A.BARRETT & SONS, 63 & 64 PICCADILLY, LONDON", so no doubt about the maker and retailer. Andrew Barrett was born in Ireland in 1819, in 1846 he established a brush manufacturing and retail business in London. It expanded to include retailing high quality trunks and travel equipment, and also retailed silver, notably hunting and smoking accessories. They traded from 63/64 Piccadilly from 1878 to 1910, prior to moving to Old Bond Street, they remained in business until 1975. This yacht is Shamrock I, Lipton built a total of 5 different Shamrocks, all unsuccessful challengers in the America's cup (Shamrock II in 1901, Shamrock III in 1903, Shamrock IV in 1920, and Shamrock V in 1930). Harold Vanderbilt, the winning skipper of the 1930 race, summed up the feelings of the American public saying "Uppermost in our minds is a feeling of sympathy for that grand old sportsman, Sir Thomas Lipton, with whom our relations have been so pleasant. This is perhaps his last attempt to lift the America's Cup. The ambition of a lifetime, to achieve which he has spent millions, is perhaps never to be realized. It has been our duty to shut the door in his face. In defeat lies the test of true sportsmanship, and he has proved to be a wonderful sportsman, quite the finest it has ever been our good fortune to race against." (source www.herreshoff.org). The American people presented Sir Thomas with a gold cup in honour of his great sportsmanship. Lipton died the following year in 1931 aged 82, shortly after being voted into membership of England's prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron, who founded the America's Cup in 1851. Yachting enthusiasts will notice the red burgee flying in this picture which is probably an error by the enamelist, as the Royal Ulster Yacht Club burgee is blue (Thanks to our good friend Ray of Royal Cape Yacht Club for pointing this out!).


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Antique Silver & Enamel Sailing Yacht Large Matchbox Cover - America's Cup, The Shamrock 1899


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America's Cup, The Shamrock 1899, Thomas Lipton


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Silver & Enamel Sailing Yacht Large Matchbox Cover


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Silver & Enamel Sailing Yacht Matchbox Cover - America's Cup


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Silver & Enamel Sailing Yacht Matchbox Cover ball foot


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A. Barrett & Sons 63 & 64 Piccadilly London


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Andrew Barrett & Sons London silver hallmarks


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America's Cup Challenger Shamrock Thomas Lipton

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