A fine and impressive lawn tennis trophy awarded to Curt Von Wessely when he defeated R. Schindler in the final of the Championship of Prussia tournam

A fine and impressive lawn tennis trophy awarded to Curt Von Wessely when he defeated R. Schindler in the final of the Championship of Prussia tournament which was held in Berlin in 1903 at Pentecost/Easter, both the top rim and base are marked '800' parts continental silver, the top rim is engraved ''Dem Gewinner der Meisterschaft von Preufsen Internationales Tennis Tournier zu Berlin, Pfingsten 1903.'', the main body of the vase is cut-glass and neatly fits into the base and rim, the base is also engraved ''Gestiftet von Eugen Lifsner Berlin'' (Donated by Eugen Lissner of Berlin.) and ''J.H.Werner Berlin 800.'', height. 29.5cm., diameter 17cm., weight. 1.6 kg.; included with this lot are two large copies of a contemporary photograph showing all the entrants at the original tournament in 1903 including Curt Von Wessely (2) In July 1905 Von Wessley played for the Austrian Davis Cup team in a semi-final match against Australasia. He participated in the Wimbledon Championships in 1903 and 1907 and on both occasions lost his first round match. At the time players who were defeated in the first or second rounds of the singles competition were entitled to compete for the All England Plate. In 1907 he reached the final of the competition in which he lost in two straight sets to future four-time Wimbledon champion Anthony Wilding from New Zealand. In 1901 and 1903 von Wessely reached the singles final at the Austrian Championship, played in Prague but on both occasions lost in straight sets to Major Ritchie. In 1909 he again reached the singles final and this time won the title, defeating compatriot Fritz Pipes. In August 1904 he reached the challenge round of the German International Championships in Hamburg and was beaten once more by Ritchie, this time in straight sets. In July 1905 Von Wessely won the Franzensbad tournament, through a walkover in the final against his compatriot Rolf Kinzl, and the following Marienbad tournament. In September 1908 he won the singles title of the Championships of the Suisse Romande in Territet. In the final he defeated R. Norris Williams in three straight sets. During World War I he became a lieutenant in the cavalry until a gunshot wound in the arm prevented further active duty. He died on 25 October 1917 in Vienna as a result of complications of this wound.