Equestrian interest, PERSIMMON - a fine silver gilt mounted horse hoof inkwell
£2,400
Auction: 30 November 2010 at 11:00 GMT
Description
A Clark, London 1908, the hoof conventionally mounted with horse shoe to base and textured section to upper section, the hinged cover with engraved inscription, opening to reveal a simple glass inkwell, the hoof applied 'PERSIMMON'
Dimensions
14cm
Footnote
Notes: the cover engraved ''Foaled April 15th 1893 Died Feb 18th 1908, Winner of the Derby St. Leger and Eclipse Stakes, also the Ascot Gold Cup
Provenance:
Persimmon (1893-1908) was an exceptional thoroughbred race horse and sire, who held a brief but illustrious reign over the world of British horse racing. Born of the St. Simon progeny, Persimmon was bred and raced by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (and afterward King Edward VII). Persimmon made his debut at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes (1895), where he also earned the first of what would become a series of racing victories. Persimmon went on to win the Richmond Stakes in that same year, but the pinnacle of the stallion's career came at the 1896 Epsom Derby, where Persimmon surged forward to beat his rival, St Frusquin, in a thrilling "neck and neck" showdown. This victory acquired additional significance as it was the first horse race ever to be filmed by Robert W. Paul and Birt Acres. Other major wins included the 1896 St. Leger and Jockey Club Stakes, as well as the 1897 Ascot Gold Cup and Eclipse Stakes. However, Persimmon's Ascot Gold Cup and Eclipse sweep came with a price- the hard turf in both races led to career-ending injuries in his hocks, at which point he was retired from the track and sent back to the stallion paddocks of Sandringham, where his stud fee was set at 300 guineas.
Persimmon continued to achieve success off the racetrack with an impressive stud career, in which he proved a champion sire on four occasions and champion broodmare sire twice. Persimmon's most outstanding offspring was the extraordinary filly, Sceptre, who won every classic race in 1902, except the Derby. In addition, Persimmon exerted considerable influence in the pedigrees of some American classic winners during the years of World War I. Despite the hazards of trans-Atlantic shipping during the war, many first-rate breeding animals were imported from England by American breeders, including Persimmon's daughters (Lisma, Dreamy II, and Perfect Peach) and sons (All Gold and Out of Reach), as well as his grandson Corcyra. In early January 1908, Persimmon fell and fractured his pelvis and thigh. The stallion never recovered from the injuries incurred in this accident and later died on 18 February 1908, at the relatively early age of fifteen. A life-size bronze statue by Adrian Jones has been erected in his memory at Sandringham, where it continues to inspire and influence the world of equestrian sport.
Noteworthy Wins: Coventry Stakes (1895); Richmond Stakes (1895); Epsom Derby (1896); St. Leger (1896); Jockey Club Stakes (1896); Eclipse Stakes (1897); Ascot Gold Cup (1897)
Awards: Leading sire in Britain and Ireland (1902, 1906, 1908, 1912); Leading broodmare sire in Britain and Ireland (1914, 1915, 1919)