M.70: A large good quality Irish silver loving cup with leaf capped double scroll handles, pedestal foot embossed with acanthus leaf decoration, the body of the cup heavily embossed with fruit,flowers and foliate scroll work. I cartouche engraved with contemporary initials and lion head crest, the other inscribed Nen Castle Course Co. Limerick 1828. 8 inches tall, 10.5 across the handles. 32 troy ounces. Made in Dublin 1785 by Matthew West . £1000. ($2350)




Craig: After an hour of google searching I found a very similar Irish Loving Cup, it turns out that the tradition of handing out trophies at sporting events comes from the use of the Loving cups at Irish weddings and other celebrations. At these events the cup was used to consume celebratory drinks, which you see happen whentoday'ss sports-people get carried away! Above is the cup I found on the internet, bearing in mind the price of the racing cup $2750 au it seems the cup may be a liability. Unless the racing cup has more to reveal??