Early 20th Century Tiffany America’s Cup 18ct Gold Tie Pin in Original Tiffany Case

The America’s Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America’s Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup.

The Cup, also known as the Auld Mug, is an ornate bottomless ewer crafted in 1848 by Garrard & Co. Henry William Paget, 1st Marquis of Anglesey, bought one and donated it for the Royal Yacht squadron’s  1851 Annual Regatta around the Isle of Wight.

The cup was originally known as the ‘R.Y.S. AED 500 Cup’,awarded in 1851 by the British Royal Yaht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom The winning yacht was a schooner called America owned by a syndicate of members from the New York Yacht Club  (NYYC). In 1857, the syndicate permanently donated the trophy to the NYYC, under a Deed of Gift that renamed the trophy as the ‘America’s Cup’ after the first winner and required it be made available for perpetual international competition.

The 18ct gold ewer seen here was crafted by Tiffany and Co circa 1880-1900. It is in its original Tiffany case.

It would most likely have been gifted or commissioned for one of the winners of the race.

A rare tie pin with strong associations to this World Class Race.