Ever since Royal Ascot first took place in the early 19th century, the premier race has always been the Gold Cup. It not only guarantees prestige for the winner, but also an actual cup which is retained in perpetuity. The Victorians, in particular, set great store by the Gold Cup's design, as seen in the centrepiece candelabrum won in 1873 by Cremorne, to be offered at Bonhams Fine Decorative Arts 1200-1900 sale in London on Wednesday 23 June. It is estimated at £80,000-120,000.

Bonhams Head of Silver at Knightsbridge Ellis Finch said, "The 1873 Gold Cup, made by Robert Garrard, is a splendid example of the Victorian craze for decorating horse racing trophies with historical or mythical scenes. The centrepiece shows Elizabeth Woodville pleading with Edward IV to return the lands confiscated from her late husband, who had been on the losing side in the War of the Roses. Struck by Elizabeth's beauty, the King invited her to become his mistress and was so impressed with her elegant refusal that not only did he restore the lands, he also married her. The story appealed to the Victorians who saw it as an example of motherly devotion and marital purity."

The winning horse, Cremorne (1869–1883), was one of the most successful colts of his generation. He was the second of six horses to win both The Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris and in 1886 a poll ranked him as the 11th best racehorse of the 19th century. He was buried in the grounds of Rufford Abbey by his owner Captain Henry Savile, who in 1872, when heavily in debt, wagered the family estate on Cremorne winning the 1872 Derby which fortunately – by only a head – he did.

Other highlights include:

• A pair of George III silver-gilt three-light candelabra made in London by Paul Storr in 1814. They are engraved with the arms and crests of George O'Brien Wyndham (1751-1837), 3rd Earl Egremont, of Petworth House, Sussex and Orchard Wyndham, Somerset. The 3rd Earl was an enthusiastic patron of the arts. He filled his stately manor, Petworth House in West Sussex, with refined decorative and fine art including paintings by John Constable, Anthony van Dyck and J.M.W. Turner, sculpture by John Flaxman, and furniture and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. His extensive silver dinner service ranks as one of Storr's largest. Estimate: £40,000-60,000.

• A George II carved giltwood overmantel or pier mirror made around 1755-1760 possibly by William and John Linnell. A tracing, made by James Chance in circa 1882, of some drawings originally executed by John Linnell include a mirror of approximate shape and proportions to the present lot. This is illustrated in H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, Vol II, 1980, London, fig. 159, p. 82 and it incorporates a similar pagoda canopy cresting and foliate branch flanks. Estimate: £30,000-50,000.

• An Italian polychrome and gilt 'Cartapesta' arched figural relief of the Virgin and Christ Child probably made in Siena or Florence in the late 15th century. The medium of Cartapesta, created from paper and cloth as a material for the plastic arts in Italy in 15th century is not intrinsically valuable the process of its production, is complex and it was held in equal esteem as marble and bronze by Renaissance sculptors. Estimate: £25,000-35,000.

4 June 2021