Archery Interest: A George III silver tray, of serpentine circular form, engraved with Cunliffe o

Archery Interest: A George III silver tray, of serpentine circular form, engraved with Cunliffe of Wycollar coat-of-arms and flat chased shell and scrolling foliate decoration within a cast scrolling foliate border, on pierced scrolling foliate feet, the reverse inscribed 'Royal Prize 1842', hallmarked London 1807, 46ox gross, 41cm diameter. Note: This Royal British Bowmen 'Royal Prize', was awarded in 1824 to Mr Brooke Cunliffe, Son of Sir Foster Cunliffe (3rd Baronet of Wycollar), the founder of the Society of British Bowmen. The Society was founded in 1787 and toured the British Isles during the season, meeting fortnightly at various stately homes of the aristocracy. It gained the patronage of George, Prince of Wales and is noted for its inclusion of women who were allowed membership for free; gentlemen paid one guinea. The Society thrived into the 1860's but changing fashions and the introduction of tennis led to the society's decline and it met for the last time in 1880.