Australian Open Opens Next Week: Norman Brookes Cup Up Close 🎾
The first Grand Slam of 2018 starts at Melbourne Park on January 15. The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup — 2.7kg sterling silver, lifted since 1934 — carries design lessons worth studying.
The first Grand Slam of 2018 starts at Melbourne Park on January 15. The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup — 2.7kg sterling silver, lifted since 1934 — carries design lessons worth studying.
Twin Handles for Two-Hand Lift
The Norman Brookes Cup has two ornate handles intentionally sized for two-handed lifting — exactly how champions are coached to hold it for the iconic photo. For perpetual trophies you commission, twin handles read more ceremonial than a single handle and prevent the awkward single-arm strain visible in cheaper trophy designs.
Pineapple Finial Echoes Wimbledon
A small pineapple sits at the top — a Victorian symbol of hospitality borrowed from the Wimbledon Gentleman Cup. The cross-trophy reference connects Australia to the broader tennis tradition. For tournament organizers, borrowing a small visual element from a heritage trophy is a way to link your event to a longer story.