Presentation Piece Silver Plated & Carved Breadboard

Victorian

Circa 1894 | Australia

A truly rare and interesting antique piece of Australian history. A beautiful late nineteenth century silver plated breadboard bearing the maker’s marks for silversmith William Mammatt & Sons of Sheffield. The circular border is highly chased and embellished to the edge, decorated with leaves intertwined with floral motifs and scrolls. The oak wood insert is beautifully carved with naturalistic wheatsheaves.

The trophy was awarded during the period which has been described as Australian cricket’s golden age (see The Gen). It was given to Mr W.A. Tipper an employee of Australia’s oldest department store, David Jones and Co., which commenced business in Sydney in 1838. Mr Tipper was an active player in the David Jones and Co.’s Cricket Club which was formed in circa 1890. His name appears in newspapers of the time, and he emerges as a renaissance man who was not only skilled on the cricket field but also adept in social pursuits such as singing. In the season opening match on Saturday 17th September 1892, Mr Tipper took five wickets and then went on to be a major part of the musical entertainment of the night (see The Gen). In 1894-5 Mr Tipper went on to score the highest single innings for which he was awarded this trophy.

DIMENSIONS: Diameter 28.5 cm, and Wooden Insert 20 cm.

SIGNATURES, MARKINGS & INSCRIPTIONS: The stamps for William Mammatt & Sons. Active at Albion Plate Works, 119–121 Arundel St, Sheffield (1886–1896). The firm used a facing left “beaver” figural trademark.

The true charm of the piece is revealed when you lift the insert to find the following engraved inscription:

D.J. & Co. C.C.

Mr H.A. Scott’s Trophy

Highest single innings

(Score 80)

W.A. Tipper

1894-5

CONDITION: In very good condition, with wear commensurate with antique age and use of such a piece. The silver plate has some tarnish and the wooden insert has some surface cracks. These all add to the history of the piece and wonder of the stories it could tell, particularly on the night it was awarded!

REFERENCES: For examples of similar silver plated bread platters see page 56 of the 1905 trade catalogue of Feldheim, Gotthelf & Co: Merchants and General Importers of British, Continental and American Merchandise, Sydney. 

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THE GEN

“The golden age of cricket has always been regarded as the period between 1890 and 1914. For in all those years all the skills of the game flowered and an unprecedented array of great batsman and bowlers delighted informed and appreciative galleries. More importantly the players of that time set standards for sportsmanship that lifted cricket above other games and established it as a character-builder and an integral part of the social scene”. (The Pictorial History of Australian Cricket, J.M. Dent, ABC Melbourne, 1983, p. 137)

“Messrs. David Jones and Co.’s Cricket Club opened its season on Saturday with an inter-house match at Botany. A start was made at 2 o’clock, when buses left town with the club members and a large party of friends. On arrival at Botany everybody received the club card of engagements for the season. The large pavilion was used by non-players and the ladies during the afternoon for skating, dancing, and other amusements. The cricket match was played between teams representing the warehouse and the office and ended in an easy victory for the warehouse. At about 6.15 p.m. an adjournment was made to the banquet hall and those who were present were not slow in showing their appreciation of good fare. In the evening a social was held in the pavilion, the vocalists being Messrs. W.A. Tipper, E. Jefferson, G. Green, E. Roberts and F. Lamb and R. Bible (step dance). A great number of dances were gone through, Messrs Grimes and Tipper, assisted by Miss Gostellow, providing the musical part of the entertainment. After a most enjoyable outing a start was made for home.” (The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 22nd September 1892, p. 6)

“David Jones and Co.’s Cricket Club. Annual Dinner and Concert. The annual dinner and concert in connection with the above club was held on Friday evening … The interest taken in the cricket club by the employees was evidenced by the numbers who assembled, the gathering being the largest known since it was inaugurated some eight years ago … The prizes won during the past season were presented by Mr. Brocklehurst, the recipients being:—First batting, C. Heckenberg; second batting, J. Ryan; first bowling, W.A. Tipper; second bowling, J. Townend; highest individual score, A. Barncastle; most catches, R. Batty. Mr E. Roberts proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the firm for its donation of trophies. Mr Jones, in reply, said it always gave the various members of the firm great pleasure in so doing. He was glad to know that so many employees participated in the great national game, and trusted they would acquit themselves as creditable in the future as they had done in the past.” (The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 8th August 1899, p. 6)

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