1909 Ashes Urn, presented to Frank Laver

Sterling silver urn commemorating the 1909 Ashes Series in England; holds the ashes of the stumps and bails used in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford in 1909. Set on a black base, the urn features an enamelled shield of the Australian Cricket Arms (the ANA arms) surrounded by a silver laurel wreath. The engraved text on the back reads, "PRESENTED BY HENRY SKINNER ESQ / TO / FRANK LAVER ESQ / MANAGER OF THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM 1909 / IN COMMEMORATION OF / THE RETURN OF THE ASHES / OF ENGLISH CRICKET TO AUSTRALIA / RESULTS OF MATCHES: AUSTRALIA WON FOUR, ENGLAND WON ONE, DRAWN MATCHES TWO". This presentation was made to Frank Laver in a ceremony at the South Melbourne Town Hall in 1910, and the ashes held within the urn are remains of stumps and bails presented to Laver in England upon closure of Test series. This is the first Australian-made trophy to represent an Australian victory for the Ashes. Made by McBean and Sons, the maker's mark is visible on the underside of the base.