$1,845
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Three-handled Presentation Loving Cup, New York, c. 1901, gourd-form with a foliate band at waist and three acanthus-capped handles with engraved inscriptions in between each handle, the first with an engraved rat above "Presented by the/White Rats of America/filled with five thousand dollars in gold/April 28th..1901," the second with an engraved star above "To our beloved/Founder and Leader/George Fuller Golden/'Big Chief'," and the third reading "'Bravo'" above "These golden drops are golden wishes wrought/From grateful hearts whose liberty you bought/With true devotion to our righteous cause/Forgetting self and all the world's applause," ht. 8 3/4 in., approx. 56.2 troy oz. N.B. George Fuller Golden (1868-1912) was an influential vaudeville performer in the early 20th century. He founded the White Rats, which was a labor union created to protect the rights of male vaudeville performers in 1900. This cup most likely commemorates a victory by the White Rats in eliminating mandatory kickbacks paid by performers after going on strike in February of 1901.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2016-04-08
