This exceptional vintage yellow gold presentation cup has been modelled in the form of a 17th century drinking cup.
The surface of this vintage cup is embellished with impressive chased interlacing scrolling leaf and floral decoration, all on a matte background.
The decoration to the cup incorporates a vacant shaped cartouche.
The lower portion of the drinking vessel is encompassed with chased fluted decoration.
The vessel surmounts a circular baluster shaped, knopped pedestal to a swept spreading foot, ornamented with further chased fluted decoration on a matte background.
The outer circumference of the foot is embellished with a band of simplified leaf decoration.
This impressive vintage gold cup is fitted to the original marble presentation plinth, featuring a hallmarked 9 carat yellow gold plaque to one side.
The presentation plaque bears the contemporary engraved inscription 'Manchester Gold Cup 1951, Won by Socrates, Trained by M. Peacock, Ridden by W. Nevett'*; this inscription could be professionally erased upon request.
Such gold examples are difficult to locate and rare to the market.
* The horse Socrates was jointly owned by Tom Crathorne and Lord Brabourne, later to be purchased by Mat Peacock at the 1949 Stockton sales for 750 guineas. The jockey William 'Billy' Nevett (1906-1992) was a native of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester and prior to his retirement in the late 1950s Nevett rode several winning races on Socrates; he had won over 2000 races across his career.
