Lot 184: A superb historic bronze motorboat racing trophy,

Le Championnat de la Mer, Monaco 1908. By the Italian monumental sculptor Domenico Mastroianni (1876-1962), cire perdu bronze depicting two 'canots automobile' cresting the waves surmounted by two sea goddesses rising from the water bearing the victor's laurels. Mounted on its original rustic granite plinth, signed and marked, Ervann Editeur, Paris.
29x9.5x13in(74x24x33cm)

The 1908 race meeting at Monaco was held from the 1st-13th of April. The highlight of the meeting was the Championship of the Sea on April 9th, a 200km open race for all competitors. Keen interest was focused on just four entries; "Panhard-Levassor" and "Grand Trefle" from France, "FIAT-Gallinari" from Italy and "Woleseley-Siddeley" from Great Britain. The new British boat, with a "Consuta" stitched hull from the Saunders boatyard had performed well early in the week and was expected to provide a serious challenge to "Panhard-Levassor" for the trophy. Sadly, the race did not start well. "FIAT-Gallinari" caught fire during the practice and was destroyed, "Grand Trefle" struck and cut down a photographer's boat, killing his son, and "Woleseley-Siddeley" broke a bolt in her clutch and could not start. The race was won easily by Chevalier Rene de Knyff driving the Tellier-built "Panhard-Levassor" in a time of 3 hours 45 minutes 2 seconds, over an hour ahead of the next boat.