A Pair Of Engraved Curling Stones
A Pair Of Engraved Curling Stones
31521
Presentation Double-Soled Granite Curling Stones.
A fine pair of traditional Victorian double-soled grey granite curling stones. Each round, dressed stone features a shallow depression to the top and bottom, designed to accommodate the plated one-piece cast goose-neck handle with wooden grip. This construction allows the stones to be reversed and used on both sides.
The striking band running around the circumference remains intact. Both handles are engraved: "PRESENTED BY COLIN DUNLOP JUNE ESQ., 11TH JULY 1871". Each wooden grip also bears an inset shield engraved with the winner's name, now too worn to decipher. The plated handles are stamped underneath: "J. Wiseman, Maker, Hamilton".
The stones have a circumference of 87 cm; the height without the handle is as shown, with the handle adding approximately 6 cm.
A very attractive decorative pair, rich in character and provenance - equally suited as collectors' pieces or distinctive doorstops.
Curling stones are traditionally made of granite, a material found all over the world. However, for the sport of curling, nothing can replace the unique properties of the granite hewn from a quarry on the island of Ailsa Craig off of Scotland's Ayrshire Coast.
The Ailsa Craig granite is some of the hardest and purest found in the world and maintains its shape despite the moist, wet conditions of the ice surface curling is played on.
The exact origins of curling are unclear but it is known to have a long history in Scotland, and it was through Scottish immigrants that the game of curling spread to other parts of the world. Early curling was an out door sport that was played on frozen lochs and ponds. Because of the unpredictable weather artificial curling rinks were being made to make a little frost go a long way. Concrete rinks were flooded with small amounts of water so they would freeze solid after a night of frost, thus having a rink to play on when the frozen lochs or ponds were unsafe. The first Curling Clubs were formed in Scotland as were the first rules to standardize curling and its equipment. The Grand Caledonian Curling Club was founded in Edinburgh in 1838, they formally adopted these new rules and became the sport's governing body. They heavily supported the use of round granite stones and rather than eight players each throwing a single stone it changed to a team of four players using two matched stones each. Four years later, in 1843, Her Majesty Queen Victoria so fascinated by the game demonstrated on the polished floor of the ballroom of Scone Palace near Perth she granted the Club the title of Royal Caledonian Curling Club. Curling was firmly established in Canada by the Scots with The Royal Montreal Curling Club being established in 1807, the oldest sports club still active in North America.
Dimensions:
1850-1899
1871
Granite
Scotland
PRESENTED BY COLIN DUNLOP JUNE ESQ., 11TH JULY 1871
Good sound condition.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://sportantiques.co.uk/alpine-wintersport-mountaineering/general-5/a-pair-of-engraved-curling-stones&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/sportantiques-64hFGwj3-uEHU73t22/stock/690b269e7651e_3_31521.jpg&description=Presentation Double-Soled Granite Curling Stones.A fine pair of traditional Victorian double-soled grey granite curling stones. Each round, dressed stone features a shallow depression to the top and bottom, designed to accommodate the plated one-piece cast goose-neck handle with wooden grip. This construction allows the stones to be reversed and used on both sides.The striking band running around the circumference remains intact. Both handles are engraved: "PRESENTED BY COLIN DUNLOP JUNE ESQ., 11TH JULY 1871". Each wooden grip also bears an inset shield engraved with the winner's name, now too worn to decipher. The plated handles are stamped underneath: "J. Wiseman, Maker, Hamilton".The stones have a circumference of 87 cm; the height without the handle is as shown, with the handle adding approximately 6 cm.A very attractive decorative pair, rich in character and provenance - equally suited as collectors' pieces or distinctive doorstops.Curling stones are traditionally made of granite, a material found all over the world. However, for the sport of curling, nothing can replace the unique properties of the granite hewn from a quarry on the island of Ailsa Craig off of Scotland's Ayrshire Coast. The Ailsa Craig granite is some of the hardest and purest found in the world and maintains its shape despite the moist, wet conditions of the ice surface curling is played on.The exact origins of curling are unclear but it is known to have a long history in Scotland, and it was through Scottish immigrants that the game of curling spread to other parts of the world. Early curling was an out door sport that was played on frozen lochs and ponds. Because of the unpredictable weather artificial curling rinks were being made to make a little frost go a long way. Concrete rinks were flooded with small amounts of water so they would freeze solid after a night of frost, thus having a rink to play on when the frozen lochs or ponds were unsafe. The first Curling Clubs were formed in Scotland as were the first rules to standardize curling and its equipment. The Grand Caledonian Curling Club was founded in Edinburgh in 1838, they formally adopted these new rules and became the sport's governing body. They heavily supported the use of round granite stones and rather than eight players each throwing a single stone it changed to a team of four players using two matched stones each. Four years later, in 1843, Her Majesty Queen Victoria so fascinated by the game demonstrated on the polished floor of the ballroom of Scone Palace near Perth she granted the Club the title of Royal Caledonian Curling Club. Curling was firmly established in Canada by the Scots with The Royal Montreal Curling Club being established in 1807, the oldest sports club still active in North America.){kind=link}