Strauss & co - 17 March 2014, Cape Town

85 245 An important Cape silver presentation cup and cover, John Townsend, circa 1833 the sides applied with ram’s-head handles, to a knopped stem and spreading circular foot, the domed cover moulded in relief with vine and leaf border, with detachable grape and leaf finial, the body engraved ‘The Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society, instituted in 1831.’, the reverse engraved ‘Presented to Mr IJ Marais, of Groot Drakenstein on the 22 June 1833 for the best sample of Wine’, 620g, 23,5cm high R100 000–140 000 NOTES “Established in 1831, the Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society was the first agricultural association to encourage wine farmers to make better wine, many cups and prizes being awarded. This tradition was followed by agricultural societies from 1833. During 1832 branches of the Association were founded in Stellenbosch, Worcester, Tulbagh and Swellendam. On 22 June 1833, at the annual general meeting, the first prize was awarded to IJ Marais, a wine farmer from the Waterval Farm, Groot-Drakenstein. Mr Marais won 100 Rixdollars for the best sample of Cape Madeira wine. The Chairman, Sir John Wylde, also presented him with a silver cup. This competition was not held again until 1843 when the first prize was awarded to Willem Herold, a young wine farmer from Cloetesdal, Stellenbosch. Isaac Marais (who won first prize in 1833) won the second prize. The Association held a competition once again on 6 September 1845. Competing for a £25 cup, a £20 cup and a £15 cup, Isaac Marais won the £20 cup. The Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society was at the forefront in offering prizes, such as cups, to encourage better brandy production. Apparently (for various reasons) there was not great enthusiasm for this competition among wine farmers. Consequently the competition was terminated in 1848, after which the cup became the property of IJ Marais from the Waterval farm, Groot-Drakenstein, as he had won the competition three times before’….” Van Zyl, DJ. (1975) Kaapse Wyn en Brandewyn 1795-1860 , HAUM. Excerpt from a letter dated 6 January, 1983, from the Director, South African Cultural History Museum, Cape Town, to Mr CJ Retief (translated from the Afrikaans).