(Item 9)
Antique German Engraving: “Billiard Champions” (c. 1883)
This rare and historically significant 19th-century engraving captures a definitive moment in the “Golden Age” of professional billiards. Published by the renowned firm of Keppler & Schwarzmann (copyright 1881), this piece serves as a sophisticated visual record of the era’s most elite international players.
The engraving depicts a gathering of five legendary champions whose names defined the sport in the 1880s: William Sexton, the French master Maurice Vignaux, the “Wizard” Jacob Schaefer, Maurice Daly, and Joseph Dion. These men were the titans of the balkline and rail games, frequently competing in high-stakes matches that drew thousands of spectators across Europe and America.
Measuring 20 3/4″ x 17″, this antique artwork is a premier example of 19th-century sports ephemera. The level of detail in the portraiture reflects the high production standards of Keppler & Schwarzmann, who were famous for their work in Puck magazine and other high-quality lithographic publications of the period. This is an essential acquisition for any serious collector of pedigreed billiard history or Victorian-era sporting art.
Specifications:
Subject: Elite Billiard Champions (Sexton, Vignaux, Schaefer, Daly, and Dion)
Date: Circa 1883 (Copyright 1881)
Publisher: Keppler & Schwarzmann
Dimensions: 20 3/4″ x 17″
Origin: Germany/USA
This is a rare piece of billiard history. Please email for price and additional details.
