1899 Mermod, Jaccard & Co. Sterling Silver Trophy Cup – Swiss Singing Festival, Highland IL – Parcel Gilt Interior - St. Louis

$1,100.00
This exceptional solid sterling silver parcel gilt presentation trophy was crafted in 1899 by the prestigious St. Louis jeweler Mermod, Jaccard & Co. It was awarded as First Prize at a Swiss-American singing competition held in Highland, Illinois—a town with a rich Swiss-German heritage just 35 miles from St. Louis. This cup is an important piece of regional American silver, connecting the work of a top-tier St. Louis silversmith to the cultural traditions of Swiss and German immigrants in the Midwest at the turn of the 20th century. The Männerchor (men’s choir) and Sängerfest (singing festival) movement was central to immigrant community life, blending music, fellowship, and civic pride. Engraving (front): Erster Preis im Wettgesang / dem Männerchor St. Louis / Schweizer Gesangsfest Translation: First Prize in the Singing Competition / to the St. Louis Men’s Choir / Swiss Singing Festival Engraving (reverse): Highland, Illinois atop a harp and laurel applique The trophy’s interior is parcel gilt, giving the inside a warm gold wash—a traditional touch for presentation cups of the era. Beautifully beaded foot and rim. Marked: STERLING (in a crown), MERMOD, JACCARD & CO ST LOUIS Weight: 280 grams Height: 7.25" Condition: Excellent overall, with a bright, reflective surface and crisp engraving. The interior gilding is beautifully preserved. One small bruise is present (shown), otherwise outstanding for its age. Provenance: Awarded to the St. Louis Männerchor at the Swiss Singing Festival in Highland, Illinois, 1899. A rare opportunity to acquire a documented piece of American presentation silver with strong regional, cultural, and musical history. Perfect for collectors of antique silver, ethnic Americana, or 19th-century music history. Check out some of my other US sterling silver hollowware here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=6783258 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
This exceptional solid sterling silver parcel gilt presentation trophy was crafted in 1899 by the prestigious St. Louis jeweler Mermod, Jaccard & Co. It was awarded as First Prize at a Swiss-American singing competition held in Highland, Illinois—a town with a rich Swiss-German heritage just 35 miles from St. Louis. This cup is an important piece of regional American silver, connecting the work of a top-tier St. Louis silversmith to the cultural traditions of Swiss and German immigrants in the Midwest at the turn of the 20th century. The Männerchor (men’s choir) and Sängerfest (singing festival) movement was central to immigrant community life, blending music, fellowship, and civic pride. Engraving (front): Erster Preis im Wettgesang / dem Männerchor St. Louis / Schweizer Gesangsfest Translation: First Prize in the Singing Competition / to the St. Louis Men’s Choir / Swiss Singing Festival Engraving (reverse): Highland, Illinois atop a harp and laurel applique The trophy’s interior is parcel gilt, giving the inside a warm gold wash—a traditional touch for presentation cups of the era. Beautifully beaded foot and rim. Marked: STERLING (in a crown), MERMOD, JACCARD & CO ST LOUIS Weight: 280 grams Height: 7.25" Condition: Excellent overall, with a bright, reflective surface and crisp engraving. The interior gilding is beautifully preserved. One small bruise is present (shown), otherwise outstanding for its age. Provenance: Awarded to the St. Louis Männerchor at the Swiss Singing Festival in Highland, Illinois, 1899. A rare opportunity to acquire a documented piece of American presentation silver with strong regional, cultural, and musical history. Perfect for collectors of antique silver, ethnic Americana, or 19th-century music history. Check out some of my other US sterling silver hollowware here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=6783258 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP