The ‘Entente Cordial’ silver champagne cooler for the British Motor Boat Club

The ‘Entente Cordial’ silver champagne cooler for the British Motor Boat Club, 1905. This deep cylindrical bowl by Charles Townley and John Thomas is of heavy gauge with a raised circular foot, two acanthus scroll handles and cut-card acanthus leaves around the base. The inscription on the silver reads ‘The “Entente Cordial” Cup Presented to the British Motor Boat Club by Mrs Walker Munroe, 1905, won by 1905 Aug 7 “Napier II” J. Scott Montagu, Lionel de Rothschild, 1906 Aug 6 ‘Yarrow Napier’ Lionel de Rothschild.’ Assayed for Charles Townley and John Thomas, London 1904, retailed by F B Thomas & Co.

Provenance: Lionel de Rothschild, by descent

Edmund de Rothschild

The British Motor Boat Club was formed in December 1904 from gentlemen already members of the New Automobile Club on Pall Mall (now the RAC Club). The club’s founders included Lionel de Rothschild (of Exbury), John Scott-Montagu (of Beaulieu), Bernard Redwood and Basil Joy. By the end of the racing season in 1905, the Club had already offered 15 challenge cups as well as around £225 in cash prizes. It eventually combined with the Royal Motor Yacht Club and, known simply as the RMYC, continues to this day in Sandbanks, Dorset.