It’s finally here; welcome to The Championships, Wimbledon 2023! To celebrate the start of the 136th tournament – and the fact that one version of the world-famous Ladies' Singles Trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, will be proudly displayed in our award-winning Rosewater Pavilion facility for the duration of the fortnight, we thought we’d serve up a little history and nostalgia here…
The story behind the Venus Rosewater Dish
One of the most prestigious and recognisable trophies in the global sporting world – arguably the pinnacle of women’s tennis - the Venus Rosewater Dish is the trophy awarded to the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Tournament Champion. First presented to the 1886 Champion, Blanche Bingley, the 18.75 inch diameter dish is a partly gilded, sterling silver salver adorned with mythological themes. The centre sees a figure of Temperance (Sophrosyne), seated on a chest with a lamp in her right hand and a jug in her left, with various attributes such as a sickle, fork and caduceus (a staff in Greek Mythology). ‘Venus’ was and is known as the Roman Goddess of victory, love, desire and prosperity among others – similar to her Greek counterpart, Aphrodite.
The Dish, a work of art, has been redesigned several times over the years, but the elemental design has remained the same. The trophy was originally commissioned by the Duke of Devonshire, who was the President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at the time. It was designed by the former Birmingham-based silversmiths, Elkington and Company, and is a replica of a 16th century pewter dish, The Temperance Basin, created by French carver François Briot - which is displayed in Kensington’s Victoria & Albert Museum, with a similar copy also held in the Louvre in Paris.
The trophy has been held aloft by some of the greatest female players of all time, including Steffi Graf, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King and Serena Williams. Serena’s sister and the trophy’s completely unrelated namesake, Venus Williams – a wildcard recipient for 2023 - has attained the prize five times. Martina Navratilova is the most celebrated Wimbledon Ladies’ Champion – a nine-time winner between 1978 and 1990, with six of these won consecutively, the most in the Open Era. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is the current holder of the trophy, having beaten Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in three sets in 2022 – her first personal major title, and the first Kazakhstani singles player, male or female, in history to reach a Grand Slam Final.
Thirsty for more info? Here are four more quick stats about the Venus Rosewater Dish:
- The name "Venus Rosewater Dish" is thought to come from the fact that these dishes were originally created to hold ‘rosewater’ when used to wash the hands after eating.
- The Ladies' Singles Champion does not keep the actual trophy, which remains in the museum at the All England Club in SW19 year-round. Winners do receive a miniature replica of the Dish to keep, which has all previous winners name’s engraved.
- It’s one of the world’s most valuable sporting trophies, with an estimated value of over £1 million.
- It’s also one of the heaviest trophies in tennis, weighing in at 12 pounds – around 5.5kg.
The story behind Keith Prowse’s Rosewater Pavilion hospitality facility
The Rosewater Pavilion, with it’s name of course inspired by the iconic, aforementioned Venus Rosewater Dish, is Keith Prowse’s award-winning, premium+ official hospitality experience within the Grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, offering private tables for 2-12 guests, relaxed informal lounges and also private areas. Beautifully landscaped gardens, subtle floral touchpoints, and British-inspired four course à la carte food and drinks menus personify the theme of tennis in an English garden, all making for an unforgettable experience. Plus, in-keeping with our ‘Best of British’ theme, you'll have the opportunity to meet a former British tennis celebrity. Ever-so-conveniently located, the Rosewater Pavilion also offers both you and your guests a stunning outdoor terrace with views towards Centre Court - and once play commences, you have just a short stroll to take your allocated courtside seats!
Has this whetted the appetite for next year?
Wimbledon hospitality, one of the only ways to guarantee court tickets, was completely sold out for this year by the start of April, 2023. Take your place at the front of the 2024 queue with an official experience from Keith Prowse, the UK’s leading hospitality provider, and the Official Hospitality Partner of Wimbledon.
Register your interest right here!