Tiffany & Co. Silver Astor Cup

“The Astor Cup is one of yachting’s most treasured trophies, dating back... years and has on its pedestal the most distinguished names in the sport, names that one connotates with wealth and skill.” — New York Times, August 4, 1975.

This magnificent Astor Cup trophy, created by the inimitable Tiffany & Co. in 1893, is a breathtaking time capsule of both American sport and craftmanship. Held in Newport and originally sanctioned by the New York Yacht Club, the Astor Cup is one of the most important yacht annual races in the world and was only second to the America’s Cup in importance. The trophies for the first of these races at the end of the 19th century were donated by John Jacob Astor. Many members of the Astor family were passionate sailors who were devoted to the success of the New York Yacht Club and the socialite and millionaire John Jacob Astor was no exception. This great silver trophy was designed and handcrafted by Tiffany & Co, who fashioned the most legendary trophies of the Gilded Age.

The importance of both the Astor competition and its trophy is indisputable. The competitors who participated in the Astor Cup, presented by America's most prestigious yacht club, were all vying for global triumph. The winner of the 1893 race, Vigilant, went on to win the 1893 America's Cup, the world's most famed yachting title.

The owners of the victorious yacht were E.D. Morgan, a relative of J. P. Morgan, August Belmont, whose wife Alva was one of the leading ladies of New York and helped create the “social 400” with John Jacobs Astor’s wife Caroline, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, then the wealthiest man in the world. The one-of-a-kind trophy was presented to the winners by John Jacob Astor himself.

This trophy is made of resplendent silver that gleams with gilded-age luxury and craftsmanship. The footed bowl of waisted form has an undulating rim mimicking waves. Carefully etched seagrass fronds frame the inscription which circles the bowl and figureheads on each side blow on a conch to celebrate the victory its receiver rightfully achieved.

Circa 1893

Marked "TIFFANY & CO. / 11690 MAKERS 3424 / STERLING SILVER / 925-1000 / 24 PINTS"

9 1/4" high by 23 1/4" wide by 16 7/8" deep