Lot 5784

Description

Challenge Cup shooting trophy, in form of a sterling silver goblet (16.25cm high; 8cm diameter at top; 215g), hallmarked near lip for London 1870, made by artisan silversmith Samuel Smily of the renowned Goldsmiths Alliance, goblet intricately engraved all over with displays of flowers and ribbon bows, one side inscribed, '4th LINCOLNSHIRE/RIFLE/VOLUNTEERS/Challenge Cup/1871', and on the other side, 'Won by/James Eley/Octr 9th/1871'. Small bump near naming, otherwise good very fine.

The 4th Lincolnshire Volunteers were formed in 1862 and in 1880 were integrated as Company C into the 3rd Lincolnshire Volunteers.

John Eley of Boston, Lincolnshire was a native Lincolnshireman who at the time he won the trophy was 21 and was a jeweller's assistant. In later years census records list him as a hotel proprietor to auctioneer in 1891 and auctioneer surveyor estate agent in 1911. It is believed that this trophy came to the Southern Hemisphere with one of his grown offspring and adopted kin, of which there were seven.

With research.