Whiting Antique Sterling Silver Tuxedo Park Trophy Pitcher, NYC, NY, 1887

Magnificent bird heads peak through swirling foliage on both sides of the neck while dramatic swirls decorate the bulbous body of this skeet shooting trophy. This extraordinary item is large, very heavy, beautifully designed and quite stately. The inscription on the front reads:

Tuxedo Club
Thanksgiving Day
1887
Presented by
T. C. van Buren
Won by
William Kent

The underside is inscribed: Entries & score - miss & out along with 18 names and their scores in the skeet shooting event. William Kent was a New York lawyer who owned one of the largest homes (Chastellux) in Tuxedo Park and Travis Coles van Buren was the grandson of President Martin van Buren.

Here is an original photo courtesy of the Gorham Archives at the John Hay Library, Brown University.

This wonderful trophy is marked underneath with Whiting's trademark and 'WHITING MF'G. Co/ NEW YORK/ STERLING/ 2625/ 8.5 PINTS'. It measures 9 inches across the body and handle by just shy of 11.5 inches tall. It weighs an impressive 56.20 troy ounces and is in excellent antique condition.