Beschreibung:

A silver gilt flying trophy 'The King's Cup', Henry Hodson Plante, London,1934, of twin-handled urn form, the domed top with flower bud finial over acanthus leaves in relief and a stylised foliate border, the body of bellied form with wrythen branch handles and a frieze with thistle, rose and shamrock designs all over an anthemion stem on a stepped circular base, the front engraved 'ROYAL AERO CLUB, THE KING'S CUP, 1935, PRESENTED BY, KING GEORGE V.' and the reverse engraved with the Royal Warrant, 44cm high, 151ozt approximately The Kings Cup was first contested in 1922 and, as the name suggests, was awarded by the King, George V. The 1935 event was won by Tommy Rose, a World War I flying ace, in a Miles M.3B Falcon Six. This trophy is from the collection of Charles Cheers Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield. Lord Wakefiled founded Wakefield Oil in 1899 and this company would later be renamed Castrol Oil. Through success in business and a desire to improve London for all, he took up a number of civil appointments and ultimately became the Lord Mayor of London from 1915-1916. He was a keen follower of high speed pursuits, whether they were on land, water or in the air, and he helped finance Amy Johnson’s record-breaking flight to Australia, sponsored Sir Henry Segrave’s 'Miss England III' project and aided Sir Malcolm Campbell with both his land and water 'Bluebird' speed ventures. According to family lore, this cup came into Lord Wakefield's possession in lieu of a debt to the Royal Aero Club and has remained in the family ever since.