Wrestling / Paul Pons / Trophy - Lot 112

Wrestling / Paul Pons / Trophy La Ceinture d'Or - First world trophy for French wrestling, 1902 A spectacular wrestling belt known as "La Ceinture d'Or", donated in 1902 by Maison Dubonnet, an undisputed emblem of French sporting prestige and the first national trophy to achieve unanimous international recognition. A true masterpiece of silversmithing, this unique piece comprises three oval medallions in solid silver (22 x 17.5 cm), bearing the hallmark of master silversmith Victor Leneuf (active between 1895 and 1935). Originally gilded, these plates convey the power and majesty desired by patron Marius Dubonnet: in the center, Hercules in all his plenitude, quiet strength at rest; on the sides, Hercules striking down the lion, illustrating domination and victory. The belt is completed by a double silver chain and an imposing leather support, giving the whole an imposing, solemn appearance. A perfectly unique object, it was first awarded in November 1902 to the immense Paul Pons, known as "Le Colosse" (1.95 m, 115 kg, size 50), world champion in 1898, who would remain its one and only wearer, having won the trophy in 1902, 1903 and 1904. Together, belt and champion became legendary for the anthology of their fights, which took place in the packed hall of the Folies Bergère, the Parisian temple of popular entertainment, where several thousand spectators cheered the champion at the end of veritable sports soap operas spanning 24 to 40 evenings of relentless wrestling. Initiated at the instigation of the newspaper Le Journal, then taken over by L'Auto-Vélo (later L'Équipe in 1946), the aim of this competition was to magnify the world wrestling championships in the same way as the Bol d'Or in cycling. From its launch in autumn 1902, the Ceinture d'Or generated unprecedented excitement, with 21 international champions - Russian, Turkish, Polish and French - competing at the Folies Bergère in front of a passionate Parisian audience. From the very first posters, the tone was set: Paul Pons, on the strength of his world title in 1898, was the designated favorite, despite the growing popularity of his direct rival, Laurent Le Beaucairois (1.73 m, over 100 kg), world champion in 1900. Controversy, adjusted rules and recomposed juries all added to the drama of an event that Pons dominated from start to finish, crushing his opponents as the evening wore on, before triumphing on December 3, 1902, in front of 10,000 wildly enthusiastic spectators, in a titanic final bout against his old friend and rival. The fight, of rare intensity, lasted 1h32 minutes and 20 seconds, and established Paul Pons as the undisputed holder of "La Merveille", the Golden Belt. Pons, now world-famous, completed his reign in 1903 and 1904, before retiring after a final world final in 1908, for a peaceful retirement in Agen. His memoirs were published in serial form, and his name lent its prestige to soups, automobiles and even a monumental poster (2.99 x 1 m), produced in 1903 by Louis Charbonnier, in which he poses, arms crossed, proudly displaying the Golden Belt. In the image of his exploits, this legendary piece will never be seen again, forever establishing Paul Pons as its sole and definitive holder. A rare witness to the golden age of French wrestling, its legends and its popular arenas, the Golden Belt embodies one of the most fascinating pages in French and world sport.