Historic Solid Silver Trophy Plaque – Gordon Bennett Cup, 1901

Silversmith: André Aucoc (hallmark “AA under a rooster”), with Minerva head hallmark – Paris, circa 1901

Size 23.5x33cm mounted on mahogany stand size 35x47cm

Description

Rectangular solid silver plaque, finely chased, bearing at its center an inscription commemorating the Gordon Bennett Automobile Cup, contested between Paris and Bordeaux on May 29, 1901, and won by Léonce Girardot driving a Panhard & Levassor 40 HP, in 5 hours and 50 minutes.

On the right appear the French silver hallmarks (first standard):

• Minerva head (950/1000) – official guarantee mark of the French Customs Administration, certifying solid silver.

• Maker’s mark “AA under a rooster” – attributed to André Aucoc, Parisian silversmith located at 6 rue de la Paix, heir to the prestigious Maison Aucoc, purveyor to French and European aristocracy.

Historical Context

The Gordon Bennett Cup was one of the first major international automobile competitions. Created in 1899 by James Gordon Bennett Jr. (1841–1918), the wealthy owner of the New York Herald Tribune, it aimed to promote mechanical ingenuity and performance across Europe.

The May 29, 1901 edition, linking Paris to Bordeaux, marked a major turning point in the history of motor racing. The winner, Léonce Girardot, driving a Panhard & Levassor 40 HP, achieved a remarkable technical and sporting feat that shone a light on the excellence of the French automobile industry.

Organized by the Automobile Club de France, the event attracted the international elite and laid the foundations for the future Grand Prix races.

Origin and Provenance

This commemorative plaque, of exemplary craftsmanship, was most likely commissioned by the Automobile Club de France from André Aucoc, whose firm was among the most renowned silversmiths of the Belle Époque.

Only four examples are known to exist today.

This particular one comes directly from the personal collection of James Gordon Bennett, preserved in his villa in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, in the Petite Afrique district – a symbol of aristocratic luxury on the French Riviera at the dawn of the 20th century.

The piece was acquired in Nice in 1937, during a public auction organized by Maison Théris, which dispersed Bennett’s collections. It then entered the collection of Mr. Caron, who ensured its preservation.

We present here, in photograph, the medal of the Gordon Bennett Cup, awarded to the driver Léonce Girardotfollowing his historic victory.
This small-sized medal, of remarkable craftsmanship, is superimposed on the large commemorative plaque created for the occasion.

The solid silver plaque, finely chased, bears the inscription:

J. GORDON-BENNETT CUP – PARIS-BORDEAUX – 29 MAY 1901
Winner: Léonce Girardot in 5h50 – PANHARD 40 HP No. 7

This masterpiece of silversmithing, signed André Aucoc, was commissioned by the Automobile Club de France to honor the driver’s exceptional achievement and to celebrate one of the earliest great international automobile competitions.

Artistic and Technical Analysis

The piece stands out for the quality of its solid silver (total weight 2.5 kg) and the precision of its chasing, both characteristic of André Aucoc’s craftsmanship.

Its style—restrained yet elegant—perfectly embodies the emerging Art Nouveau aesthetic of Paris circa 1900, blending ornamental discipline with industrial modernity.

The maker’s mark “AA under a rooster”, struck on the right border, unmistakably identifies the Aucoc workshop. The Minerva head, symbol of the State’s guarantee, confirms the use of first-standard silver (950/1000), typical of prestigious commissions.

Historical and Cultural Significance

This plaque embodies:

• the birth of international motor sport,

• the fusion of art and technology at the turn of the century,

• and the Anglo-French spirit of patronage emblematic of the Belle Époque.

With its prestigious provenance, extreme rarity (four known, one in private hands), and refined execution, it is a museum-quality masterpiece, essential to the history of both automobile racing and French silversmithing.

Selected References

• Automobile Club de France, Historical Archives of the Gordon Bennett Races, 1900–1905

• James Gordon Bennett: The Man Who Invented Speed, Automobilia, 1987

• La Maison Aucoc, Orfèvres Parisiens (1835–1911), Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris

These search criteria may interest you: