^ X-RARE c.1909-10 WMF Brass & Wood Box - German FOOTBALL Soccer National Team

Description

Antique X-RARE c.1909-10 WMF Brass & Wood Box Football Soccer Players Embossed
For your consideration is a wonderful box, made of thick brass with an exotic wood inner lining
Hand hammered, with an embossed ornamentation up top
It displays a group of three Association Football (Soccer) players, jumping for a ball, with two other players in the background
This subject makes the box especially rare and interesting. Football, now the world's most famous sport, was still in it's early years. Keep in mind - the DFB (German Football Federation) was founded only in 1900, and the German National Football Team only played it's first official game in 1908
Displays clear Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) stylistic elements, fashionable at the time
Four bun feet
Hinged top lid
Marked on the underside with the WMF Ostrich Mark, in a Domed Beehive - WMF G. The mark originated from the German word for ostrich, 'Der Strauss' - used as a nod to Daniel Straub, one of the company's founders. The "G" stands for the town of Geislingen, near Ulm in Baden-Württemburg
The ostrich mark was used between 1903 and 1910. However, the Domed Beehive shape came about in 1909, and it is possible to date this piece to the circa 1909-1910 years
An additional number mark beside it - 88
If it is so, it would make sense that this box was created as a commemoration of the German National Team (Die Mannschaft) and their first victory in an international fixture. After four losses in their first four recorded games, they won versus Switzerland 1:0 on the 4th of April, 1909 in Karlsruhe
Keep in mind that, although organized international football was still only starting to take shape, the game was extremely popular wherever it was introduced on club level and would quickly spread throughout the continent. The oldest club football league in Germany was formed in 1890
All original and an extremely rare early artifact from the budding years of the World's Game in the Four-Time World Champion country of Germany
Antique, circa 1909-1910, made by the well-known WMF - Würtemburgische Machin Fabrik - a prominent producer of silver and metalware in operation to this day, founded in 1880
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Measurements:
Approx. 7.5" x 4.2" x 3"
Weighs about 1 lb. 2 oz.
Condition:
Very Good overall,
Please see
photos below. All original. Some scuffs here and there. Minor dings at the corner extremities. Marvelous display!
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