London – The 1926 Ascot Gold Cup designed at the behest of King George V will be offered at Bonhams' Fine Decorative Art sale on 29 November 2022. The designer, Charles Sykes (1875-1950) had been a little-known employee at Garrard's until the monarch selected his design. It has an estimate of £150,000-200,000.

It was the indulgence of the whims of George V that caused contemporary gold and silver design to rise from the ashes of the Victorian age. The King had voiced his dissatisfaction with the stagnation within the gold and silver industry, particularly in trophy design, which, in the era of mass production, had relied overmuch upon traditional styles. In response, The Goldsmiths' Company launched an open design competition for the three Ascot Cups, pledging "to do everything possible to restore the ancient tradition of the silversmith's craft in this country". Over 300 sketches were submitted by 91 firms and craftsmen to a panel of judges, among them architect Sir Edward Lutyens R. A., founder of bookseller W.H. Smith C. H. St John Hornby and artist Muirhead Bone. To the frustration of the King's spokesperson, Lord Churchill, he rejected all entries, and the crown jewellers Garrard's had to hurriedly present two alternatives. It was the entry of Charles Sykes (1875-1950) that was selected and announced as winner of the competition.

Primary a sculptor, the Yorkshire-born Charles Sykes had won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art to study art, sculpture and metal casting. His design embodied an aesthetic that looked towards the future, the clean lines and minimal ornamentation eschewing the fussiness of Victoriana. Sykes was already renowned for his model of the Rolls Royce car mascot, the 'Spirit of Ecstasy'.

The Ascot Gold Cup is the showpiece event of Royal Ascot week. The 1926 edition was won by Solario, owned by Sir John Rutherford. The horse went on to command the highest stud fee in the land and was duly immortalised in oils by Sir Alfred Munnings.

Ellis Finch, Bonhams Head of Silver, commented, "The cup has never been offered on the open market before, having stayed within Sir John Rutherford's close family and thence been handed down by descent to the present owners. It forms a pivotal point in the birth of contemporary gold and silver design as we know it today, fostered by the innovative vision and design initiatives launched by George V in 1925."

The sale also features an important George II giltwood side table with a specimen top comprised assorted hardstones, marbles and minerals. The table was made between 1735-1740 and come from Ripley Castle, seat of the Ingleby family.

The hardstone, marble and mineral types in the tabletop are predominantly indigenous to the UK. The use of Derbyshire Blue John is particularly noteworthy. A variety of the common mineral fluorspar, Derbyshire Blue John has a distinctive bluish purple colour with a white banding. It was first recorded by Lady Mazarine, one of the Eyre family and a major landowner, who leased 'ye mine of Blue John'. This material is only found on Treak Cliff, Castleton, in Derbyshire. The table has an estimate of £35,000-55,000.

Other highlights from the sale, which consists of 104 lots, include:

• Attributed to François Villemsens (French, fl. mid-19th century), an impressive pair of First Universal 'Great Exhibition' gilt bronze Neptune ewers, circa 1851. Estimates: £30,000 - 40,000.

• An impressive genre tapestry depicting The Procession of the Fat Ox, Flemish, circa 1730, after Teniers, signed V LEYNIERS (Urbanus Leyniers) after a design by Jan van Orley. Estimates: £25,000 - 30,000.

• Two George III silver entrée dishes and covers on Old Sheffield plate warming bases, Paul Storr, the bases London, 1810, the covers London, 1813. Estimates: £20,000 - 30,000.

• A Medieval Nottingham alabaster relief carved rectangular panel depicting The Assumption of the Virgin, late 15th century. Estimates: £15,000-25,000.

• An impressive antique Heriz carpet North West Persia, c.1890. Estimates: £15,000-25,000.