Victorian Scottish silver trophy cup

Top quality, late Victorian, handmade silver trophy cup in the George III style popular in the late 18th century. The cup is of plain circular form with a stepped conical foot and thread rim, high loop handles and a nicely gilded interior.

This cup would make an excellent presentation piece and its simplicity lends itself to engraving with script or imagery. A wooden plinth and silver plaque could be made to fit.

The word trophy, coined in English in 1550, was derived from the French trophée in 1513 - a prize of war. In ancient Greece, trophies were made on the battlefields while the Romans built magnificent trophies in Rome, including columns and arches and huge stone memorials.

While trophies have marked victories since ancient times, today a trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies in the form of silver chalices, or two-handled cups, are popular items presented to winners of sporting events and include some of the world's most famous trophy cups: The FA Cup, Wimbledon Trophy (two-handled cup), Webb Ellis Cup, Ryder Cup and the British Grand Prix Trophy.