Uruguay was the world’s most accomplished soccer power in the early 1900’s. The small South American country won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Amsterdam Games before triumphing in the inaugural 1930 World Cup (and later in the 1950 World Cup). “La Celeste” (The Sky Blue) also won six Copa Americas in an 11-year run (1916-26) to earn the title as the best football team in South America.

At the 1924 Paris Games Uruguay dominated its opponents with an aggregate 13-2 goal differential. They shut out the U.S. in the opener before beating host France Holland and ultimately Switzerland in the finals. Presented here is a rare 1924 Paris Olympics gold medal winner’s Sèvres vase awarded to a member of the Uruguayan National Football Team. His 1924 Paris Olympic participation medal is also included. The name of the player will be revealed to the winning bidder.

Designed by talented artist M.O. Guillonnet and executed by Bracquemond at the world-famous porcelain factory of Sèvres this exquisite porcelain vase measures 33.5cm (13.25”) tall and is designed with lovely golden laurel branches hand-painted on a French blue background. The four pâte-sur-pâte roundels (each around 11cm in diameter) feature the sports of Football (Soccer) Rowing Rugby and Diving with a gray background and green perimeter. The neck has an array of eight aeronautical figures and narrows to a diameter of 6.5cm (2.5”). Its total weight is 55 ounces (1537g). The very bottom is stamped with the appropriate hallmarks: "MADE IN FRANCE"; "O.D.V. GUILLONNET"; "BRACQUEMOND"; and two logos "S 1924 DN" and "RF DECORE A SEVRES 1924".

The quality of Sèvres porcelain is hard to fathom often leaving collectors in disbelief that such a majestic piece of artisanry can stay so well-preserved for what is now almost a century. This one certainly lives up to its expectation. It is believed that only 309 of these special vases were made and many different versions were created to account for the various Olympic events. They were presented only to gold medal winners with some ending up in the hands of dignitaries or set aside for institutions. Many winners reportedly received their vases well after the Games (often from the French Embassy if a competitor was overseas) because the necessary production numbers were not met in time. For more information see page 804 of the Paris Olympic Games Official Report.

The 1924 Paris Summer Olympics participation medal is made of bronze. Minted by Paris Mint. Designed by Raoul Bénard. 55mm in diameter; 4 mm thick; 72 grams. Obverse has city view of Paris over French legend in three lines with "VIII OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924" in raised lettering. Reverse has Nike Goddess of Victory with laurel wreaths crowning victorious athletes. Designer's name stamped at bottom. Very Fine condition.