Graham Budd Auctions
Lot 261
An Elkington silver-plate scale-copy of the Venus Rosewater Dish originally owned by the Victorian tennis player James Baldwin winner of the All-England Mixed Doubles Championship with Ms K. Hill in 1890,
approx. ¾ scale faithful copy of the trophy presented to the Ladies Champion at Wimbledon on Centre Court each year, an electrotype circular 'Temperantia' charger dish, after the original by Francois Briot (circa 1585), decorated in relief with a design of allegorical cartouches within borders of strapwork, birds, masks and flowers, diameter approx. 39.5cm., 15 1/2in. copper exposed on raised surfaces due to over cleaning through time; sold together with a silver-plated goblet won by James Baldwin at the heavyweight boxing championship at Bath in 1891, presentation inscription to the bowl, height 20cm., 8in. (2)
Provenance:
By family descent
Extracts from James Baldwin's obituary in the Bath Weekly Chronicle reads " ... in boxing he had been the hero of several truly Homeric combats, in one of which he was the victor after 23 rounds ... his spell as Master of the Bath Harriers ended in 1899, when he was presented with a handsome silver salve at a complimentary banquet at the Assembly Rooms in April, 1899 ... In November,1905, he accepted the Mastership for a second period ... He had represented Somerset at lawn tennis in the County Championship, and was honoured by being placed on the Committee of the Somerset Lawn Tennis Association."
He was also the subject of a feature in the Sporting Gazette 27.5.1899 under the heading 'The County Gentleman: Mr James Baldwin" which tells us that he was from a sporting Irish family in County Cork with prominent links to hunting. He was educated in England, and when at school was stroke of his boat. He also captained the Bath football team for two seasons, and afterwards took up lawn tennis, at which game he was most successful for many years, having held nearly all the champion cups in England. This included the All-England Mixed Doubles title with Ms K Hill in 1890. He also excelled at boxing having won the heavy and light weight cups competed for by amateurs in Bath and County. Additionally he was described as a remarkably good shot and a keen fisherman.
