“Novice Polo Pony” Traveling Inkwell Trophy

Inscription

• Front: Elegantly engraved in script with the name “Charles Dickens.”
• Underside: The base features a beautifully rendered multi-line presentation inscription:

The National Polo Pony Society Horse Show

Westbury, L.I.

September 26, 1922

Novice Polo Pony (Heavy Weight)

Won by

The line following “Won by” was left blank, meaning the trophy was customized on the front with the winning horse’s name—confirming that “Charles Dickens” was the name of the novice heavyweight polo pony that won this class.

Manufacturer and Origin

• Who Made It: The faint stamping along the upper rim on the underside reads GORHAM MFG. CO. accompanied by their hallmark symbols and STERLING.
• Where It Was Made: It was manufactured in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, where the Gorham Manufacturing Company was located.

How the Lock-Down Feature Worked

This inkwell was specifically engineered as a “traveling inkwell,” designed to prevent ink from spilling while in transit:

• The Key Mechanism: The hinged lid features an extended front tab with a built-in, captive key-shaped thumbscrew.
• The Secure Lock: When the lid is pushed down into the closed position, the threaded tip of the screw lines up with a matching threaded receiving hole on the top deck of the box. Turning the key clockwise screws the lid securely down into the body.
• The Leakproof Seal: Inside the lid is a circular recessed rubber gasket. When the key is fully tightened, it forces this gasket down tightly against the top rim of the removable glass ink insert, creating an airtight, spill-proof seal.

The National Polo Pony Society

The National Polo Pony Society was a prominent organization during the golden age of American polo in the early 20th century.

• Context: Headquartered closely with the sport’s elite circles on Long Island (such as the Meadow Brook Club near Westbury), the society was responsible for evaluating outstanding polo bloodlines, keeping official stud books, and holding annual horse shows to award top-performing animals.
• Historical Significance: Before modern polo awards were established in the mid-1960s, winning a class at the National Polo Pony Society Show in Westbury was considered one of the most elite, prestigious honors a polo horse could achieve in the United States.