Billiard Handicap - 1911 - Sport trophy

Raro Edwardian Trophy (1911) – Mappin & Webb – Won by Frank Weaver Margrett (S. Smith & Sons) – Piece of Industrial and Biographical History

Historical Premise and Importance of the Lot:
This lot is not a simple vintage sports trophy, but an exceptional historical and biographical document from the early 20th century. The cup brings together three excellences of British history: the craftsmanship of Mappin & Webb, the prestige of the multinational S. Smith & Sons, and the personal story of one of its most celebrated key figures, Frank Weaver Margrett. Finding a corporate trophy won directly by a prominent historical figure of the company itself is an extremely rare opportunity for high-level collectors.

Object Specifications:
• Dimensions: height 17.8 cm, diameter 14.5 cm.
• Manufacture: Mappin & Webb (London/Sheffield), official supplier to the British Royal Household.
• Material: Mappin's Patent / Prince's Plate. Fine and thick silver-plating patented by the company, famed for its very high quality and durability, designed to visually rival sterling silver.

The Hallmark (Manufacturing Value):
On the base of the trophy is the original complete Mappin & Webb hallmark, which includes the shield with the inscription "MAPPIN'S PATENT", the control letters of the manufacture (including the letter N) and the characteristic plant symbols that attest to its authenticity and era.

The Historical Engraving:
The cup bears on the front an elegant original engraving from the period:
"S. Smith & Sons Ltd / BILLIARD HANDICAP / 1911 / WON BY G. W. MARGRETT / OWES 10"
(Note: The initial "G" instead of "F" is a typical and fascinating transcription error by the period engraver, a common practice in corporate sports trophies).

Who was the winner? The historical value of Frank Weaver Margrett (1867–1940):
The trophy was won by Frank Weaver Margrett, at the time an exceptional master goldsmith, engraver and employee/director of S. Smith & Sons Ltd. His story within the company is extraordinary.

The Link with the Company: Entered S. Smith & Sons around 1885, he quickly became a central figure in the high-end jewelry and precision watchmaking sectors of the firm.
• The international case of the Queen’s Pearls (1909): In 1909, Margrett was at the center of global headlines: he was sent to Bangkok to deliver jewels commissioned by the Siamese royalty, and he actively collaborated with Scotland Yard and Asian authorities to recover the Queen of Siam’s pearls that had been stolen during transit.
• Resident Director in Asia: His success was such that in 1919, after the First World War, the company appointed him Resident Director of the Asian subsidiary, S. Smith & Sons (Siam) Ltd. He became one of the most well-known and influential British personalities in Bangkok, where he later opened his own prestigious silverware and jewelry business.

The Technical Sports Detail ("Owes 10"):
The engraving highlights the human and competitive side of Margrett in the company’s recreational club. The inscription "Owes 10" indicates that in the 1911 handicap billiards tournament, Margrett was considered such a formidable player that he started each match with a starting score of −10 points relative to his peers. Despite the disadvantage, he managed to win the tournament and claim this cup.[1]

Condition of the object:
The cup is structurally solid and intact. It features a splendid and genuine dark patina due to natural oxidation of time (over 110 years of history). It can be left as is to preserve its historical, cabinet-like flavor or easily polished with silver-specific products to reveal the exceptional brilliance of the Mappin Plate patent.
A museum piece for collectors of industrial memorabilia, Signature Mappin & Webb silverware, and the history of the great British manufacturing dynasties.