The tradition of awarding trophies as symbols of achievement spans centuries, but whilst the Ancient Greeks handed out olive wreaths and medieval knights received coats of arms, the modern era has brought us awards and trophies which feel much more familiar.
With advancements in technology, materials, and cultural significance, trophies have evolved to reflect the changing values and aspirations of society. Here’s a journey through the history of trophies in the modern era, from their industrial roots to their role in today’s world.
The Birth of Mass-Produced Trophies
Though we covered the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries in our last blog in this series, the advancements this era gave us are worth a mention in this one too as a pivotal moment in the evolution of trophies. Prior to this period, trophies were often crafted by hand from precious metals and adorned with intricate designs. However, the advent of mass production made trophies more accessible.
Materials like cast metal, glass, and wood allowed for the creation of standardised awards for a growing number of events. By the late 19th century, trophies had become staples of organised sports competitions, with events like the FA Cup in football and the Wimbledon Championship solidifying their importance.
The Golden Age of Sporting Trophies
| Vice President Biden and Secretary Kerry unveil the FIFA World Cup Trophy in 2014. Source: US Department of State, public domain |
As such, the 20th century saw the emergence of iconic trophies that are still used today as prestigious awards. The FIFA World Cup Trophy, the Olympic medals, and the Stanley Cup are prime examples of these designs, known to the world and representing the pinnacle of sporting achievements across a range of disciplines.
The era also brought a diversification in the types of events awarding trophies. From academic achievements to artistic competitions, trophies became markers of success across various domains. Materials evolved further, with gold-plated metals, crystals, and even plastics becoming popular choices for crafting these awards.
Whilst the recognisable cup design of trophies emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries with the Old Club Cup and the America’s Cup, the 20th century is where this became far more widespread.
Cultural Shifts Towards Music and Film
| Composer and three-time Grammy award winner Ricky Kej pictured with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Source: Ricky Kej, public domain |
As society entered the late 20th century, trophies began to reflect more than just victory. Instead, they started to embody personal stories and cultural values. This period saw an increase in the personalisation of trophies, with engravings and custom designs making each award unique to the recipient. One-of-a-kind trophies like the FIFA World Cup trophy began to engrave the name of each winner (or winning team) to an ever growing list, whilst each recipient of an Emmy award would, and still do, receive an individual engraved trophy to keep.
Events like the Emmys, as well as the Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys, set the standard for how trophies could become cultural icons. These awards went beyond acknowledging individual achievements to representing entire industries and the values they promote. These are still the most prestigious awards given in their respective industries (TV, music, film, and theatre) – whilst other awards ceremonies exist in these areas, the 20th century indeed gave us these enduring icons.
Technological Innovations and Sustainability
| Sustainable, 3D engraved crystal awards are a modern iteration of historical trophies, used often in business. Laser Crystal Shield Award |
The 21st century brought technological innovations that revolutionised how trophies are designed and manufactured. Whilst the rise of mass production in the Industrial Revolution saw trophies become less bespoke and more duplicate and standardised, the modern era holds more value in items which are indeed unique. 3D printing, laser engraving, and sustainable materials have all played a role in modernising trophies, allowing for custom designs or engravings to be included in the awards without requiring long production lead times.
Today, awards can be produced with intricate designs, unique textures, and even digital integrations, such as QR codes linking to highlights of the recipient’s achievements. Full colour printing and photography can also be included using advanced printers, something that was never possible before this technology was invented, improved, and made mainstream.
Sustainability has also taken center stage, with eco-friendly materials and processes becoming a priority for many organisations. With the mass production of many trophies, waste can be a real issue, especially when the trophies are made from low-quality materials that cannot be recycled easily. At Laser Crystal, we use optical quality flawless crystal – not only are our awards long-lasting, they’re 100% recyclable too.
Trophies in the Digital Age
Even more recently, we’ve seen the concept of trophies expand to the virtual realm. Video games and esports award digital trophies as symbols of in-game achievements, while organisations use digital certificates and tokens to recognise accomplishments in virtual events. Games like Fortnite and Overwatch have ranking systems where players start at the bottom – usually Bronze – and can work their way up to the top where they’ll be ranked as Champions, Top 500, or Unreal. Though unrecognisable from traditional trophies, these schemes all have the same purpose and effect: to encourage recipients to work harder and get better.
Esports have been about since the mid-20th century, believe it or not. However, the post-millenium rise of global esports tournaments, centred in South Korea and now a global phenomenon, has made it far more mainstream. Winners of esports tournaments can receive anything from traditional physical awards to financial prizes, in-game rewards, and merchandise.
Despite the shift towards digital, there is still a place for physical trophies – nothing can beat the feeling of receiving an award at an in-person ceremony where you can celebrate with friends, family, and colleagues. The core essence of trophies remains unchanged: they are always a testament to human achievement. Whether crafted from gold, crystal, or pixels, trophies continue to inspire, commemorate, and celebrate the best in us.
Personalised Awards In The 21st Century
As the UK’s leading manufacturer of 3D crystal, our two decades worth of experience in creating crystal awards and trophies allows us to achieve unbeatable quality by using state-of-the-art 3D laser engraving to adorn each trophy with the name of the recipient.
Our huge range of crystal awards, trophies and gifts includes a wide variety of designs to suit all budgets, tastes and occasions from corporate awards to academic accolades. Let us know what you need and when you need it, and we’ll do the rest. We ship worldwide and offer a same-day courier service for UK orders. Every award will be supplied in a high-quality, satin-lined presentation gift box.
Browse our range of crystal awards or contact the Laser Crystal team for further information, to receive a quote or if you’d like a sample. Alternatively, pop us a call on 01202 675000 and we’ll be happy to chat to you about your project!