BELMONT STAKES Horse Racing Sterling Silver Aesthetic Tea Caddy Museum Box Jar

Description

ABOUT:
Museum worthy piece with interesting provenance - this is a c1882 hand hammered American sterling silver lidded box in the aesthetic style made by Dominick and Haff with embossed images of lily pads and water lilies, leaves, clouds, bugs and dragonflies.  That alone is display worthy but what makes it even better is the provenance.  The underside of the box is engraved:
"August Belmont 3d From August Belmont, Christmas 1882".
This box comes from the prominent Belmont family of the Belmont Stakes thoroughbred horse race, part of the triple crown along with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. This box was given as a Christmas gift by August Belmont Sr. (who the race, the racetrack and the trophy were named after) to his grandson, August Belmont the 3rd, who was born in December of 1882.
There is much interesting information to be read in Encyclopedias and history articles about the Belmont family, a family prominent in American banking and finance, politics, Horse racing and patronage of the arts.  Beautiful piece for any silver collector, with added historical significance for any history buff or horse racing enthusiast.
Beautiful quality in the hand hammered silver work with the detailed aesthetic imagery.  Sturdy hand feel.  Would be beautiful on your dining table, for tea time, or in a vanity set or a prominent piece for display.
MEASUREMENTS:
Nice size canister measuring about 4 1/4" in height, the bottom is about 2 3/4 inches in diameter.  VERY Sturdy hand feel weighing 148 grams.
MARKS AND PATTERNS:
Marked Sterling on the underside with the Dominick and Haff hallmarks including the production year of 1882 in the far right triangle of the hallmark stamp.  Also marked 24 for the pattern.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Please note this piece is in estate condition but this seems in better than most shape to me, not heavily used.  There is one linear ding between the lily pad and the bug and another fingertip impression to the right of that same bug.  The hammered finish helps mask the wear.   A few shallow impressions or pinhead shocks, and a few nicks.  Some stubborn tarnish spot but has a nice shine with patina in the embossed details to help them stand out.
But Please note this is not in mint condition. Amazing to behold these pieces over 135 years old from a historic family, still looking so beautiful today.
Shipping will be with insurance and signature confirmation upon delivery at my cost.
More about the Belmonts:
August Belmont Sr. (the giver of this box) was a German-American politician, financier, foreign diplomat, and party chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 1860s, and later a horse-breeder and racehorse owner. He was the founder and namesake of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown series of American thoroughbred horse racing.  The race is nicknamed The Test of the Champion and The Run for the Carnations.
August Belmont Jr. was also a prominent part of American history in that he financed the construction of the original New York City subway (1900–1904) and for many years headed the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, which ran the transit system.  Like his father, Belmont was an avid Thoroughbred racing fan. According to his Time obituary, Belmont "is credited with having saved thoroughbred racing when it was at its lowest ebb in the East, after the repeal of the racing law in New York State."
Belmont, Jr., A Harvard graduate, served as the first president of The Jockey Club and was chairman of the New York State Racing Commission. In 1895 he was one of the nine founding members of the National Steeplechase Association. He was also at one time President of The American Kennel Club and the New York Athletic Club.
Not as much is written about August Belmont III, (the receiver of this box in Christmas of 1882, the month he was born,) although he did grow up to become a prominent banker.