Before-and-after composite of the Kentucky Derby trophy for Smarty Jones, shown as a slightly dull tall gold cup with horse-and-jockey finial standing beside a separate dark green stone base in the first view, then fully reassembled on the base in the second, with a richer 24k gold surface and a crisp engraved inscription.
Kentucky Derby trophy for Smarty Jones — worn gold surface reduced, cup replated in 24k gold, base reattached and overall finish clarified.

TROPHY REPAIR AND PRESENTATION PIECE RESTORATION

Repair, polishing, and restoration of silver, silverplate, brass, bronze, and gilt trophies and presentation pieces.
Chelsea Plating Company in Philadelphia restores trophies and presentation pieces for clients in the city and throughout the United States. The workshop repairs silver, silverplate, brass, bronze, and gilt cups, bowls, plaques, and sculptural awards ranging from local athletic trophies to historic racing and institutional pieces. Typical projects include dented and out-of-round cups, leaning figures, loose bases and stems, tired or uneven finishes, and worn plated areas on long-displayed awards. Many clients find the studio while searching for “trophy repair near me” and are looking for careful work that respects inscriptions, dedications, and competition histories. Each piece is assessed individually so that structure is stabilized, finishes are clarified, and the object can be displayed or used in a way that suits its age and significance.​
​Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.

AT A GLANCE — TROPHY REPAIR AND PRESENTATION PIECE RESTORATION

  • Silver, silverplate, brass, bronze, and gilt or gold-plated trophies and awards
  • Cups, bowls, racing trophies, plaques, sculptural awards, and institutional presentation pieces
  • Dent work, straightening, alignment correction, and stabilization of stems, figures, and bases
  • Cleaning, tarnish reduction, polishing, and, where appropriate, selective replating of worn areas
  • Emphasis on preserving engraving, inscriptions, dates, and decorative detail
  • Suitable for athletic, academic, corporate, civic, and commemorative trophies and medals on stands
  • Not a sports shop for plastic or resin trophies, engraving-only changes, or mass replacement parts
  • Only objects that can be safely shipped or hand-delivered; no on-site restoration
  • Packing guidance provided before shipping; return shipping arranged from the Philadelphia workshop
  • Realistic approach where heavy wear or prior work limits how far restoration should go
Before-and-after composite of the Franklin Challenge Cup trophy from the University of Pennsylvania, a large two-handled silver urn shown dark and heavily tarnished with a hard-to-read inscription in the first view, then bright and reflective in the second, with a crisp laurel band, scroll handles, and clearly legible Franklin Challenge Cup engraving.
Franklin Challenge Cup trophy — heavy tarnish reduced, laurel frieze and inscription clarified, classical two-handled form emphasized.

TROPHIES, CUPS, AND ATHLETIC AWARDS

Many trophies arriving at the workshop have seen decades of presentation, handling, and polishing. Common concerns include dented and out-of-round cups, bent rims and stems, loose handles, and columns or figures that lean or feel unstable on their bases. Chelsea Plating focuses first on structure: correcting bends, reducing dents where possible, tightening or resoldering loose components, and making sure that the cup or figure sits square and is safe to handle.
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Once the structure is stabilized, surfaces are cleaned and tarnish is reduced. Polishing is tailored to the piece, from a softer sheen that suits an older cup to a brighter finish for more recent awards. Where plating has thinned or worn through, selective replating may be recommended so that the restored trophy reads as coherent without losing its age and character.
Before-and-after composite of the Shoeless Joe Jackson “World’s Greatest Slugger” Long Throw Trophy, a two-handled silver cup on a rounded black wooden base, shown dark and heavily tarnished with a barely legible inscription in the first view and then bright and reflective in the second, with crisp scroll handles, clear engraved text, and a cleaned but still gently worn base.
Shoeless Joe Jackson “World’s Greatest Slugger” Long Throw Trophy — heavy tarnish reduced, engraved inscription clarified, silver surface and wooden base stabilized.

CORPORATE, ACADEMIC, AND COMMEMORATIVE PRESENTATION PIECES

​Corporate, academic, and institutional presentation pieces often carry engraved dedications, crests, or seals that are central to their meaning. These may be bowls, trays, plaques, ceremonial trowels, or custom awards that have been on display for years. Typical issues include tarnish buildup, uneven past polishing, light scratching, and occasional dents or distortions from handling and moves. The goal is to stabilize any structural issues, clarify important inscriptions and emblems, and present an appropriate, even finish.
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Engraving and relief detail are preserved by using controlled cleaning and polishing techniques rather than aggressive cutting. On some pieces, limited local plating can be used to reinforce worn areas while leaving sound original surfaces undisturbed. Recommendations are shaped around the object’s material, how it is displayed, and whether it continues to be used for active presentations or serves as a historical record.
Pair of restored gold-toned MacUser “Eddy” award trophies, each showing a stylized male figure holding a small Macintosh computer above his head, mounted on black pyramidal bases with the engraved MacUser band clearly legible around the plinth.
MacUser “Eddy” award trophies — gold-toned figures cleaned and polished, engraved bands and black bases clarified.

BASES, MOUNTS, AND MIXED-MATERIAL TROPHIES

​Many trophies combine metal with wood or other materials, and over time bases can become loose, tilted, or visually disconnected from the award they support. Figures may twist on their mounts, fasteners can corrode or fail, and layered columns may feel unstable when lifted. Chelsea Plating examines how each component is attached and stabilizes mounts and joins so that the trophy can be safely handled, lifted, and displayed.
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Metal surfaces on tops, figures, and decorative elements are cleaned and polished with attention to how they relate to any remaining patina, so that older trophies do not look stripped or overly new. Where multiple metals or finishes are present, treatment is balanced so that the whole piece reads as a single, unified object. When non-metal elements are beyond the workshop’s scope, the studio can often work in stages or coordinate around repairs carried out by other specialists.
Before-and-after composite of a tiered golf trophy base with silvered bands for engraved winners’ names, dull and heavily tarnished on a worn black plinth in the first view, then bright and reflective with crisp black tiers and clearly legible names such as Dale Douglas, Gary Player, Orville Moody, Lee Trevino, and Jack Nicklaus in the second.
Golf trophy base — heavy tarnish reduced, silvered bands polished, engraved winners’ names clarified, black tiers refinished.

PROCESS, SHIPPING, AND PROJECT SCOPE

​Trophy and presentation piece projects begin with clear photos and basic dimensions, along with notes about the object’s history and how you would like it to look and function. Based on these materials, the workshop can outline likely approaches and whether dent work, straightening, polishing, or plating may be involved. Final scope and any needed adjustments are confirmed once the trophy arrives at the Philadelphia workshop and can be examined in person.
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Chelsea Plating accepts only objects that can be safely shipped or hand-delivered; very large, permanently installed, or architectural awards fall outside the studio’s scope. Packing guidance is provided so you can prepare the piece for shipment to Philadelphia, and specific shipping arrangements can be discussed once the estimate process is underway. After treatment, the studio arranges return shipping from Philadelphia using appropriate packing. Some heavily worn or thin pieces may be better served by conservative cleaning and stabilization rather than extensive reshaping or plating, and the workshop will discuss these limits with you before work proceeds.
Front view of the Philadelphia Challenge Cup gold rowing trophy, a tall slender cup with very long handles, a narrow round foot, and a small relief emblem on the front.
Philadelphia Challenge Cup rowing trophy — surface wear reduced, finish clarified, tall two-handled form and relief emblem emphasized.
​Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.

BEFORE AND AFTER GALLERY

​The projects below show typical outcomes for trophy and presentation piece restoration, from structural stabilization and dent reduction to clarified finishes and selective replating. Every trophy is evaluated individually, and treatment is tailored to its materials, construction, and history, so results and recommended approaches will vary from piece to piece.
Before-and-after composite of the 1964 Carling World Golf Championship winner’s plaque for Bobby Nichols, shown as a tall narrow silver-colored plate with dark, mottled tarnish and hard-to-read starburst and lettering in the first view, then bright and even in the second, with a crisp incised star, recessed golf ball detail, and clearly legible inscription.
Carling World Golf Championship winner’s plaque — heavy tarnish reduced, surface finish clarified, star-and-golf-ball motif and inscription emphasized.
Two angled views of the Walter Payton 1985 NFC Offensive Player of the Year bronze trophy, showing two football players in a tackle pose on a stepped base with a circular motif band and a gold-colored front plaque reading “Walter Payton – Offensive Player of the Year.”
Walter Payton 1985 NFC Offensive Player of the Year trophy — bronze surface cleaned and waxed, patina clarified, inscription plaque preserved.
Before-and-after composite of the Woodlawn Vase Preakness trophy for Smarty Jones, a tall ornate sterling silver vase with horse-and-jockey finial, shown dark and heavily tarnished in the first view and then bright and reflective in the second, with detailed relief figures, horses, and decorative scenes clearly visible from the square base to the lid.
Woodlawn Vase Preakness trophy for Smarty Jones — heavy tarnish reduced, sculpted racing scenes and inscriptions clarified across the full silver surface.
Before-and-after composite of a tall lidded University of Pennsylvania sterling trophy with two handles and a red and blue enamel shield on the shoulder, shown dark and heavily tarnished in the first view and then bright and reflective in the second, with crisp engraved inscription and clear foliate decoration near the base.
University of Pennsylvania sterling trophy — heavy tarnish reduced, enamel shield preserved, inscription and foliate ornament clarified.
Before-and-after composite of the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club “Trub Trophy” sailing cup and tiered base, heavily tarnished and separated on the left, then bright, legible, and fully reassembled as a single trophy on the right.
Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club “Trub Trophy” sailing cup — heavy tarnish reduced, engraved winner bands clarified, cup and tiered base reassembled for stable display.
Before-and-after composite of a tall two-handled silver track trophy cup, shown dark and heavily tarnished with a hard-to-read inscription in the first view, then bright and reflective in the second, with crisp chased floral border decoration and a clear engraving noting a May 1931 track meet won by Raymond Ford.
Two-handled 1931 track trophy cup — heavy tarnish reduced, engraved inscription clarified, chased floral border detail emphasized.
Before-and-after composite of the Andrew W. Mellon 75th birthday silver trophy, shown dark and heavily tarnished on a chipped black base at left, then bright, reflective, and mounted on a new dark wooden base with crisp relief buildings and the inscription “Andrew W. Mellon 1855-1930” clearly legible at right.
Andrew Mellon 75th birthday silver trophy — heavy tarnish reduced, new dark wooden base prepared, architectural and scrollwork detail clarified.
Before-and-after composite of a commemorative Pentagon Building cornerstone trowel, shown first with a dark mottled silver-colored blade and then with a bright reflective blade and ferrule, a yellow handle, and a clear engraved inscription reading “Cornerstone Trowel for Pentagon Building, Washington D.C., March 17, 1942.”
Pentagon Building cornerstone souvenir trowel — heavy tarnish reduced, inscription clarified, metal blade and ferrule polished.
Before-and-after composite of a Jefferson Memorial cornerstone souvenir trowel, shown first with a dull tarnished silver-colored blade and then with a bright reflective blade and ferrule, a smooth ivory-colored handle, and a clearly legible engraved inscription noting Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Jefferson Memorial cornerstone ceremony.
Jefferson Memorial cornerstone souvenir trowel — tarnish reduced, inscription clarified, metal ferrule and ivory-colored handle preserved.
Before-and-after composite of a 1954 pigeon racing trophy with two pigeon figures and a central eagle, shown dull and heavily tarnished on a stained dark base in the first view, then bright and gold-toned on a clean black and brown stone and wood base with the front inscription plate clearly legible in the second.
1954 pigeon racing trophy — heavy tarnish reduced, brass bird figures polished, stone and wood base clarified.

FAQ — TROPHY REPAIR AND PRESENTATION PIECE RESTORATION

WHAT TYPES OF TROPHIES AND PRESENTATION PIECES DO YOU RESTORE?
Chelsea Plating works on metal trophies and awards in silver, silverplate, brass, bronze, and gilt or gold-plated finishes. This includes cups, bowls, racing trophies, academic and institutional awards, plaques, ceremonial trowels, and many commemorative pieces mounted on bases. The workshop is not a sports shop and does not replace plastic or resin trophy parts or provide bulk engraving services. Projects are best suited to trophies and presentation pieces with lasting significance or ongoing ceremonial roles.

WHAT KINDS OF DAMAGE OR WEAR CAN YOU ADDRESS ON TROPHIES?
Common issues include dents and creases, bent or out-of-round cups, leaning figures, loose stems or handles, and unstable bases. Tarnish, discoloration, light scratches, and uneven past polishing are often improved as part of the work. Where plating has thinned or worn away on a plated trophy, selective replating may be possible if the underlying structure is sound. Extremely deep dents, severe metal loss, very thin walls, or extensive prior repairs can limit what is safely achievable; in those cases, the focus may be on stabilization and improved appearance rather than complete visual correction.

WILL ENGRAVINGS, INSCRIPTIONS, AND HISTORIC MARKINGS BE PRESERVED?
Preserving inscriptions, dates, and decorative detail is a priority. Cleaning and polishing are controlled so that engraved names, competition histories, crests, and logos remain legible and raised detail is not thinned. In some cases, old machine-brightening or heavy past polishing may already have softened lettering or decoration, and this cannot be reversed. The workshop can advise how far current work should go to clarify the surface without further compromising important markings.

CAN YOU REPLATE OR CHANGE THE FINISH OF MY TROPHY?
For suitable pieces, worn or patchy plated surfaces can often be replated after structural issues are addressed. Preparation is carried out with restraint to preserve engraving, logos, and pattern detail, and the color and sheen of the new deposit are tuned to the object and its setting. In some cases, full replating may not be wise because of thin metal, complex construction, or previous work, and a combination of careful cleaning, localized treatment, and finish adjustment may be recommended instead. The aim is a stable, coherent appearance that respects the trophy’s age and history.
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HOW DO SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS WORK FOR TROPHY PROJECTS?
Estimates begin with clear photos and dimensions sent to the workshop, along with any information you have about the trophy’s history and use. Chelsea Plating provides packing guidance so you can prepare the piece for shipping to Philadelphia. Specific details such as shipping method and any insurance can be discussed once the estimate process begins. Once work is complete, the workshop arranges return shipping from Philadelphia using appropriate packing and carriers. Only objects that can be safely shipped or hand-delivered are accepted, and no on-site restoration services are offered.
Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.

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