Tennis - Tennis racket

Antique Wooden Tennis Racket – “Golden Arrow / Cadre de Luxe” – competition model, France, ca. 1905–1915

Description

Early wooden lawn tennis racket, French manufacture, model “Golden Arrow”, marked “Cadre de Luxe”. The racket features a traditional laminated wooden frame with oval head, hand-drilled string holes, and original natural gut stringing (partially intact).

The throat bears a decorative emblem with eagle and globe motif, typical of pre–First World War sporting graphics. The shaft is finely engraved with directional arrow motif and original model inscriptions.

The shaft bears the name “Théo Rémy”, most likely referencing the craftsman or workshop responsible for the model rather than a professional player. Such named artisan signatures are characteristic of pre-WWI racket production and largely disappeared after industrialisation of the sport.

Of particular interest is the original leather-wrapped grip with leather butt cap, bearing printed care instructions:

“WHEN NOT IN USE – KEEP IN A PRESS – GARDER SOUS PRESSE”

This bilingual English/French instruction reflects early international lawn tennis practice and confirms that the racket was intended for use with natural gut strings, which required constant pressure when not in play.

This racket represents a high-grade competition model of its period, intended for serious match play rather than casual or beginner use.

Dating & Age Explanation (Important)

This racket can be confidently dated to the early 20th century (circa 1905–1915) based on the following construction details:
• Leather-wrapped grip and leather butt cap
→ Characteristic of early rackets. Rubber grips and moulded rubber end caps only became common after World War I.
• Printed “keep in a press” instruction on the butt
→ Typical of pre-1915 gut-strung rackets; such instructions disappear once string technology and grip materials changed.
• Hand-drilled string holes and hand-tied natural gut
→ Pre-industrial production methods, replaced by machine drilling later.
• Absence of rubber components
→ Strong indicator of manufacture before c. 1918–1920.
• Decorative transfer graphics and engraved lettering
→ Typical Belle Époque / Edwardian sporting design.

Condition
• Structurally sound wooden frame
• Visible age-related wear, patina, and minor surface marks consistent with use and age
• Original leather grip present, with wear and scuffing
• Gut strings partially intact; some broken strands
• No modern restorations observed

Condition is very good for an object of this age.

Rarity & Collectability

Early pre-WWI wooden tennis rackets with:
• original leather grips
• intact butt-cap instructions
• clear model identification

are increasingly scarce and sought after by collectors of antique sporting equipment and tennis history.

Above description is made by Chatgpt.