A Mudhook Yacht Club racing prize

A Mudhook Yacht Club racing prize, in the form of an oval silver box with a slightly concave hinged lid and gilt interior, inscribed ‘Mudhook Yacht Club 10^th July 1914 for yachts of the 6 metre class 2^nd prize won by Gonda’, with assay marks and stamped to the base ‘Sorley, Glasgow’.  In a fitted wooden box, the silk lining printed with a royal patent and the address for Sorley, Glasgow.

Robert & William Sorley were watch and clock makers, jewellers and silversmiths to the nobility and the leading residents of Glasgow.  Founded in 1840 the ‘handsome premises of this firm occupied a commanding comer position, having six large plate-glass windows’ and carried a ‘valuable stock of watches and jewellery, also a choice collection of old and modern solid silver’.  They made a golden key and two caskets presented to Queen Victoria by the City of Glasgow and the Royal Burgh of Renfrew.  They were leading manufacturers of gold badges and chains and were responsible for the care and maintenance of all the large clocks in the city.