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What I have to offer for your viewing pleasure here is this stunning Art Deco silverplate & macassar wood trophy by Roux Marquiand! Truly of a one of a kind this gorgeous, gleaming silverplate trophy was presented in 1939 to the French writer Pierre Lyautey. Masterfully designed it carries Marquiand's signature Art Deco streamlined lines throughout, from the arcing, curved lines on top to the horizontal lines on the body and vertical lines on the foot. The handle flanges gleam with their triple tiered / stepped design before giving way to the beautiful, rich, dark macassar wood handles, another signature element Marquiand used to accompany his silver. It is a breathtaking piece that is absolutely gorgeous! There is a quite a bit of significant history behind this trophy as I believe that it was presented by the Gharb Moroccan Equestrian Society on posthumously on behalf of his Uncle Marshal Lyautey to his nephew the famous French soldier, writer and journalist Pierre Lyautey who was also briefly a chief of staff to the General Finance Director of Morocco. His uncle Marshal Hubert Lyautey was the first Resident-General in Morocco from 1912 to 1925, briefly he served as the Minister of War and from 1921 on he was the Marshal of France. He was dubbed the French Empire Builder for his famed or infamous pacification and colonization of Morocco and he was even on the cover of Time magazine in 1931. He died in 1934 and his nephew was the executor of his estate and had him laid to rest. This equestrian society in Gharb may have been one Hubert Lyautey created or one that was created in honor to him and this trophy cup was presented to his nephew in honor of his uncle for work he also did in Morocco. I do not honestly know, I have done a ton of research and this is what I have found, honestly you Francophiles guesses are as good as mine! From French to English the plaque reads "Society Equestrian From Gharb, Night of 1939, Race 2nd series, Cup of Marshal Lyautey, Offered by M. Pierre Lyautey". It is hallmarked "R * M" with Roux Marquiand and "25" for the silver thickness. It is in superb overall condition for its age with no dents, dings or bends to the silver body. The wood veener on the base is splitting and there are two splits in the base itself, there is a scratch on one of the wood handles as well. It stands 15-1/2" tall by 13" wide from handle to handle. The rim measures 3-3/8" wide, the body is 7" at its widest and the wood base measures 7" by 7".
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