With Benfica playing their first game of the Portuguese Cup this Sunday, I wanted to post about the most beautiful piece of Portuguese "Silverware", the Portuguese cup. I have translated the information about the trophy of the Portuguese Cup for you. The original text can be found on the F.P.F. ( Portuguese Football Federation) site .
The Trophy | |
"The Trophy is a jewel in silver and wood. Originally the trophy inhabited the office of the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and goes as far back as the old Portuguese Championship. Now, with the change of location of the Portuguese Federation headquarters, it can be found right at the headquarters entrance, protected by a glass case. The trophy is the original trophy from it’s inception, and proudly displays all the winners since the1921/22 season: the first five winners are displayed right below the main body, the rest are displayed clockwise on the wooden base. “We had the notion that the Portuguese public did not know that there were 3 identical trophies, and because of that, we started to display the original Trophy in the final game”, explains the Federation’s Vice President, Amandio de Carvalho. “In the beginning the trophy would stay in the presidential tribune, now it stays next to the pitch surrounded by securities” Carvalho adds. The trophy has 2 less valuable, but well traveled replicas. One of them keeps the “mother” trophy company in the Portuguese Federation headquarters and goes back to the 30s and it can’t be handled by the players. In the inaugural final where Academica defeated Benfica 4-3, it only got to The original trophy has several unique details. Besides the above mentioned plates with each winners name, it also has a plate with the engraving of “F.P.F.A, Portuguese Cup (Táça de Portugal). The acent over the “a” is not a mistake, it was how the word “Táça” or Cup was spelled. Underneath the columns, in a round manner, the 5 caravelles are inscribed, it is an homage to Portugal’s era of Discoveries, The theme is repeated above the columns with another 13 caravelles, all in different styles, two of them incomplete, due to their close proximity to the handles. Above the caravelles we can see the 5 “quinas” ( a Portuguese symbol for the cross of Christ) Over the handles there are small spheres called “esferas armilares” this symbol goes back to King Manuel's reign and it represents a scientific model of the universe. Along with these spheres there are crosses of Christ that fully represent the Portuguese. Throughout the years the the trophy has been subject to asthetical up keeps in order to preserve its original condition, if you look closely you’d never tell it’s a piece that is 80 years old. | |
Original Dimensions Replica | |
Photo from http://www.fpf.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_FUTEBOL
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