The Incredible Conn Smythe Trophy
Every major professional sporting event usually hands out two trophies. One trophy is given to the winning team and the second trophy is given to an individual player. Most team based professional sports like Hockey, Cricket and Football etc hand out trophies with the same concept.
The individual who is rewarded the trophy in pro sports is usually for “Player of the event” or “player of the series.” The most incredible example of such a trophy is the Conn Smythe Trophy handed out every year to the NHL Player of the Year.
The Stanley Cup playoffs’ rewards this trophy each at the end of the series. Since its inception in 1964-1965 games, this trophy has been given 44 times to 38 players. The trophy is rewarded based on the votes casted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association.
Though it is rewarded each year the trophy is not duplicated. The same trophy is handed over to the new recipient and mostly is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada.
The trophy is named after Conn Smythe who is the former owner, general manager and coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The design of the trophy is rather unglamorous and is shaped in the form of a step like pyramid decorated with maple leaves on each step. The trophy design is inspired by the Maple Leaf Gardens where the NHL was played from 1931 to 1999.
The heavy trophy has a wooden base crowned with maple leaves made of sterling silver. Each step of the trophy has a similar flat disc shaped as maple leaf with the name of the winner and year embossed on it.
Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche has won the trophy thrice followed by Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Bernie Parent who have won this trophy twice each.
The interesting trivia is that many players have been rewarded this trophy despite the fact that their team didn’t win or reach the finals of the NHL. They are: Roger Crozier (1966), Glenn Hall (1968), Reg Leach (1976), Ron Hextall (1987) and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003).
Tags: Conn Smythe Trophy
Oscars: The Most Famous Trophy
The most coveted award in cinematic achievement is the Oscar trophy. This trophy is dreamt of by everyone in the movies be it in front of the camera or backstage.
Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Art & Sciences (AMPAS), the Oscar trophy is simple and very regal. What I love the most about an Oscar trophy is it simplicity of design and concept. The trophy is sophisticated, conventional and yet not boring.
Winning an Academy Award trophy is an achievement that forever gets fixated with the name of the winner. People in the Hollywood movie industry and that of England are addressed as “Academy Award Winner” or “Academy Award Nominee”. Winning or being nominated for the coveted trophy turns literally into a title.
First given out in 1929, the trophy design has remained the same. In fact, other major awards like the Emmys (for television & movies), People Choice Awards have been designed influenced by the Oscar trophy.
The Oscar trophy is made of gold-plated britannium on a black metal base. The trophy is designed in the form of a knight holding a crusader’s sword standing on a podium designed as a reel of film with 5 spokes. The trophy is 34 cms tall and weighs 3.85 kgs.
Each of the 5 spokes on the trophy represents the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians. The edgy cuts of the trophy indicate heavy influence of Art Deco.
The Oscar trophy is technically called the “Academy Award of Merit.” Other types of awards are:
• Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
• Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
• Gordon E. Sawyer Award
• Scientific and Engineering Award
• Technical Achievement Award,
• John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation
• Student Academy Award.
These trophy honors aren’t compulsorily given out each year decided by the AMPAS board of governors. The trophy design for these awards is different from the Oscar Statuette.
MGM’s art director Cedric Gibbons, one of the original Academy members, supervised the design of the award trophy. His then wife introduced to him, Mexican director Emilio Fernández. Fernández was convinced by both to pose nude to create what today is known as the “Oscar”.
Tags: Famous Trophies, Oscars, trophy design
Award a trophy this time to make the winners special
Who cannot acknowledge the esteem that a trophy holds in a competition? After all, that’s what all participants compete for in a sports competition or for that matter any match of guts or muscle power or brain power. Everyone competes for winning to their level best, to the extent of even risking their well-being, in the passion for the award. The importance of trophies and awards in any competition cannot be denied as they are souvenirs of one’s successes and testimonials that no one else was better.
No competition is too small for trophies and awards. If you are an organizer of small competitive events in your city or school or organisation, you must not under-estimate the power of recognising the success of the winners; especially when you can easily order your own customised trophies.
If you feel you need more variety than your local store provides in designs in trophies and awards, visit the many websites on the theme online. You would find the most extensive range in trophies, plaques, medallions, shields and other corporate items for awards on these websites.
The award varieties with these sites are available in all materials including glass, crystal, metal and wood. You can also count on these websites to cater all price ranges to ensure that there is something to fit every budget.
Tags: Sport Trophy
HOW TO CLEAN TROPHIES
After living the moment of glory on winning a trophy, the only thing to be concerned about is to keep it clean.
And this isn’t about just using a cloth piece and wiping your trophy. Keeping it simple, here is how one can clean various types of trophies:
Wooden Trophies
Plaques/Trophies made of wood usually have metal pieces embossed on them.
Always use a brash with semi-hard bristles like maybe the one you would use to clean your winter coats.
The age old technique of using wet cloth isn’t a good idea. It dampens the wood of the trophy. Using wet cloth frequently, the polish of the trophy disappears and spoils the color. The wooden surface turns dull and the trophy looses its original charm.
In case you have been using a wet cloth before and the trophy surface has turned dull then use “petroleum jelly” on a dry cloth and wipe it well on the wooden surface which will help it shine. Ensure the quantity is less and you rub it well to absorb the jelly onto the surface, else dust will collect quicker.
Acrylic Trophies
Though such trophies are rarely given out now, however they require a very simple process to clean.
Clean your trophy with a solvent called Pledge and wipe well with a soft cloth that doesn’t gather lint. Now, take another piece of cloth and wipe out the extra solvent used.
Your trophy will be as good as new.
Brass Trophies
Trophies made from brass if cleaned properly from day one will always look as good as new. Other they discolor in patches.
For simple cleaning, use soap water and a soft cloth to wipe clean. Don’t bathe the trophy in the soap water. Use minimal amount.
If the brass trophy appears tarnished, use polish like Brasso. Ensure you put on your gloves before using the polish. Remove excess polish with a separate piece of clean “dry” cloth.
Silver Trophies
Always use a dipping solution first. This saves you from rigorously rubbing your trophy.
Depending on the outcome, apply silver polish (different from brass polish) and rub with soft dry cloth.
Most dipping solutions might make the trophy dull. So wipe well with cloth to see the result.
Stainless Steel Trophies
Simple use any Ammonia based glass cleaner and wipe the trophy with dry cloth.
Tags: trophy, Trophy Maintenance
ENGRAVING TROPHIES
Though not that complicated, the art & process of engraving trophies is often misunderstood as a very simple process. Much goes into trophy engraving which the client needs to know about.
Usually, engraving can be done anywhere on the trophy irrespective of its design and material. However, be aware of certain factors before deciding on getting text/images engraved on trophies:
Character Limitation:
Every company will have a set number of characters allowed for text as engraving on the trophy. Exceeding that would have separate charges.
Font Style & Design:
Not all fonts and styles are available for trophies. A supplier will have a set style of fonts to choose for trophy engraving. If you don’t like the options, then you have to provide the font details beforehand. This will increase overall trophy cost. Complicated fonts cannot be engraved on wooden trophies, so discuss the same with supplier.
Color Art:
Every font and logo design has different Color Art techniques. Colors can’t be etched along with half tones (grey) on trophies. It’s better to take advice of the designer what is best possible color art option for your trophy.
Logo Engraving:
Trophy suppliers, mostly do text engraving for free. Logo engraving (corporate, club, federation, and coat of arms) however can be chargeable. Depending on how complex is the design and the area covered on the trophy surface, the charge varies.
If your logo needs to be designed by the trophy supplier, then the fee needs to be paid only once per logo designing and not for the number of trophies ordered.
Trophy Material:
Remember that Crystal, Wood, Leather and Titanium trophies can be engraved using laser. Gold, Silver (nickel mix and sterling) trophies can be engraved by hand or by machine. Laser engraving on Gold and Silver can spoil the trophy.
Hand Engraving:
This requires the trophy to be engraved using a simple machine. Experts can do away with complicated fonts and logos on trophies however this mostly results in errors. The process is painstaking and not as satisfactory.
Machine Engraving:
It is used for engraving trophies with flat surface like plaques or silver plates.
Laser Engraving:
The latest technology is most useful for uneven surfaces and crystal trophies. It’s quick and exact as it is connected with the computer that instructs the machine to engrave a trophy made of any material.
Tags: Engraving, Trophy Making
A New Revolution in Sport Trophies
Remember the old days of the typical “plaque” design trophies and medals? That’s actually gone primitive with the sporting having undergone a complete wave of change and becoming more “image conscious.” Sports Trophies, of course, are the biggest impression of any tournament, irrespective of the sport and its fan following.
Today almost every sports event has a new trophy design which has to be completely different from other sports trophies. Experimentation is in full swing and the federations allow open liberties to trophy designers. Some brilliant examples are the FIFA World Cup trophy or the Laureus Sports Awards trophy.
However all of that is big games and big money. We need to also understand the needs of smaller enterprises requiring trophies to be made for smaller level games. For this, we always understand your game, its reach and popularity to design a trophy which makes it worth the sporting spirit. You don’t have to follow the swanky look of crystal trophies like the one given for ATP Tennis Championship, one of the best examples of Sports trophies made in Crystal.
We design trophies based on the sport to suit your taste. It’s a simple concept. For instance, if you wish to give away a trophy for football game, then we suggest creating a trophy which has a football globe made in a common pattern with the actual football used during the game along with extra options like stars decorated around the globe. Furthermore, to award the best player, the football globe can be replaced by a soccer shoe to emphasize the trophy being given to a single player.
Using the main object of play (football, hockey sticks, baseball bat) in various styles designed in sterling silver and enameled with gold, a trophy can be made very attractive with a fresher feel to it.
The base of the trophy can be chosen from sterling silver, crystal or good quality wood.
They are smart, customized to the sport and given in a variety of colors. Taken a wooden base painted in an attractive color (maybe green for lawn tennis) which also becomes economical. Many trophies even include olive branches and or stars to bring the slight hint of yesteryears.
Engraving for most trophies is nowadays done with lazer. It’s sharper and particularly useful when you choose a difficult “font” for the inscription.
Tags: Sport Trophy
Elaborate Trophy Designs: Reliving History
While the world might prefer contemporary and simple designs for trophy making, however rewarding winners with trophies decorated with elaborate designs and vintage shapes has a different charm altogether. In fact, some clubs, organizations still prefer to keep the age old tradition alive and carry on presenting trophies as they were first made ages ago.
Usually, when awarding trophies became a tradition, the shape of trophies used to be either of bowls, discs or goblets. These trophies were made in Gold, Silver, Brass with the base either made in the same metal or wood. Classic shapes indeed as made during the medieval ages in Europe.
It was indeed, the trophy maker’s pride to keep up with the tradition of classic shapes as most these used to be rewarded to or by aristocratic people. Most sports like Cricket, Tennis and Golf were the playgrounds of the rich and famous. Thus the trophy would have to live up to the standards of such people and class.
The inscriptions on the trophy were always engraved in classic fonts like Celtic or Old Bookman. Not only that, the trophy used to also have designs made on them. From simple floral strips running on the mouth and base of the trophy to elaborate figurines decorating the entire surface, trophy making was at its classic best.
A classic example of decorated trophy is the Women’s Single’s Wimbledon Trophy. Awarded annually, the exquisitely designed trophy is in the shape of disc. The trophy has been carved with figurines of mythical Gods and laced with elaborate patterns towards the outer ring. The trophy is made with both gold and silver. The trophy is unlike any other designed for a sporting event.
However, one doesn’t have to follow the traditional conventions of trophy designing. Take the example of the FIFA World Cup trophy awarded once every 4 years. The trophy which was designed in 1974 is a rather dramatic combination of sports and styling. Standing only 14.4 inches tall, the trophy is made of solid gold base. Smart thinking has it that the name of the winning is engraved on the bottom of the trophy so as to not spoil the look of the trophy.
The Italian designer chose the unique emotion of 2 athletes stretching out to reach the world in a moment of victory, to decorate the trophy.
Tags: Trophy Making
Crystal Trophies: The New Way of Recognition
Since the last few decades, organizations have grown bored of wooden & silver trophies. With imagery & visuals becoming more important, everyone now wants a trophy which is customized to their profession, industry and individuality. And this is where Crystal Trophies have made a revolutionary entry into the world of rewards and recognition.
Why Crystal Trophies? The simple reason is that Crystal Trophies are more appealing. Depending on the recognition being given, a crystal trophy can be designed as per the persona and image the award carries. Dainty designs for creative fields, frosted crystal statues made into trophies for sports, large cubical designs for corporate awards, crystal makes a distinctive statement.
High-Quality: Crystal Trophy any given day makes the award look more prestigious, viable and worthy of being rewarded. From engraving the name & details, to outer surface finish and the base, every aspect of the trophy comes out more edgy. A trophy made of crystal definitely speaks of craftsmanship and high quality.
Older alternatives like brass, wood etc cannot be molded that well.
Better Customization: Trophies made of crystal can be customized as per the award type. For retirement, professional achievement, long service Obelisk or Pantheon shaped trophies are the best. For academic excellence, student awards & competitions the most apt trophies are made in the shape of discs and globes. Star shaped trophies or trophies designed with a sculpture are good for leadership, team and key contributor awards.
Many firms like trophies to be designed for what they do. Aviation companies like trophies designed as aircrafts. FMCG firms like the trophies to be designed in the form of champagne bottles.
Edgy Designs: With the companies wanting to be more specific and ready to go at any lengths to have trophies designed more visually attractive, Crystal trophies now come in colors as well. The most popular culture for corporate or advertising awards are crystal trophies with black crystal base. Organizations like WWF Nature etc choose to have their trophy designed with a green base, as green is the color of peace.
To make the trophy more exclusive, the latest trend is to encase the trophy in a premium presentation box. This accentuates the prestige of the awarding committee and the recipient. The finest example is the trophy designed by Chopard each year for the Cannes International Film Festival.
Tags: crystal trophies
Stanley Cup: Worlds First Pro-Sport Trophy
Deemed by sports-writers as The Holy Grail or Lord Stanley’s Mug is perhaps the first ever trophy made for pro-sports made around the early 1890s for an Ice Hockey tournament. The trophy is now annually awarded to the winners of NHL (National Hockey league). It was this very trophy which, most probably, began the tradition of the winners drinking champagne from the cup itself. The Stanley Cup trophy isn’t made each year unlike trophies for other professional sports like in football, cricket etc.
In 1892, Lord Stanley (then Governor General of Canada) had a silver bowl designed as a trophy to be rewarded to the top ranking Ice Hockey team in Canada. Over the years, with new liaison and mergers, the trophy finally ended up as the chalice of NHL champions in 1926.
Surprising it is that Lord Stanley himself never saw this trophy.
The trophy is very basic in design with no sense of stylish curves or dramatic small statues decorating its surface. The governor had “Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup” engraved on it. Naturally, this trophy started the tradition of having the names of the winning team engraved on it, including the year or victory. The trophy saw a revolutionary change of concept when in 1907 the winners had their names written in the interiors of the trophy as there was no space left on the outer surface.
Later in 1918 another band was added to the trophy in order to engrave the names of the successive winners. Made of silver and nickel and the original Silver cup placed right on top, the trophy now is 35.25 inches tall and weighs a little more than 15.5 kilograms. The silver bowl of the original trophy however was rather small with an 11.42 diameter and 7.28 inch height. As of today, the trophy has 8 bands of which 6 have names engraved on it.
Since 1924, winners of the team have always been engraved on the trophy. With a new band added each year to the trophy, it was nicknamed as “Stovepipe Cup” because it looked like an exhaust pipe. Thankfully in 1948, the trophy was redesigned with a removable bowl and collar. The trophy now had all the names of winners engraved on the outer surface.
Tags: Sport Trophy, Stanley cup, trophy
Trophy Making
While traditionally, the trophies were made with wood or metal, these days the domination of plastic trophies is almost complete, though there are also product innovations using resins.
The design process begins with research on market trends. The design department interacts with the customers to get their feedback on the already available catalogue, and changes and improvements that can be made in them. Focus group surveys are undertaken. Then the brainstorming begins. Sculptors, graphic artists, conceptual designers and design engineers work out the various possibilities of redesign. Then they produce either a physical or a virtual drawing or a basic sculpture, giving the idea in visual or three-dimensional form.
Traditionally, trophies are shaped as two-handled cups, bowls, or mugs (all usually engraved); statues of people, animals, and architecture with words, numbers or images engraved on them. But there is some radical experimentation too. The Hugo award for Science Fiction is shaped as a space ship.
A trophy is rarely designed as one piece. Its four basic parts- the base, the column, the riser and the figurine, are all designed independently before an assembler chooses from the different options available to him to make the final product.
The new design is then carefully assessed with regards to the design aesthetic, manufacturing difficulty, tooling needs, durability, and decoration. If there is a problem in any of these areas, redesigning is carried out till the time everything is perfected.
When it comes to the final production, most of the parts, including the risers, base, and figurine, are injection molded. The molding is done using a process known as extrusion. Hot-stamp metallic foils are pressed into the columnar shafts to impart the figurine metallic color. Gypsum is inserted into the base and metal studs are molded into the trophies to make them stronger.
Post manufacture, high quality control is maintained by an inspector who looks for variations in molded parts or improper color or foil application.
Tags: Trophy Making
