The Silver Shield, manufactured by Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, of New Bond-street, for Messrs. John Brinsmead and Sons, of Wigmore-street, pianoforte manufacturers, and presented by them for competition at the Wimbledon Meeting this year, is shown in our Illustration. It is a shield of pointed form, and charged with St. George's Cross, between the arms and at the foot of which are panels containing representations of incidents in five great British battles—namely, 1st, Landing of the Romans; Standard Bearer leading the Romans ashore;—2nd, Battle of Hastings; The Death of Harold;—3rd, Battle of Agincourt; King Henry V. defending his brother Clarence;—4th, Battle of Blenheim; Surrender of Marshal Tallard to the Duke of Marlborough;—5th, Battle of Waterloo, with the Duke of Wellington in the foreground. This series illustrates the progress of arms and armour, from the skins and shields of the Ancient Britons, through the mail of the Saxon and Norman periods, to the full development of plate armour in the fifteenth century, and its disuse upon the general adoption of firearms. In the centre is a small panel, with the characteristic device of the National Rifle Association surrounded by a wreath of olive and palm, symbols of peaceful victory. The upper arm of the Cross is occupied by a Bard chanting the praises of military achievements; above which, on a ribbon in raised letters, is the title of the prize, "The Brinsmead Challenge Shield." The remaining decorations are the monogram of the National Rifle Association, with rifles and oak wreath.
Source: The Illustrated London News, No.2255—Vol. LXXXI, Saturday, July 22, 1882, p.89
