Merry Christmas, from Carole to Clark

75 years ago, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were celebrating their very first Christmas as a married couple. To commemorate the occasion, Carole gifted Clark with a silver cup:

The item was recently auctioned, with an estimate of $400-$600 and ended up going for $3,250!

The auction listing stated: Silver loving-cup trophy attributed as a 1939 Christmas gift from Carole Lombard to Clark Gable. (Dec. 25, 1939) Silver “loving-cup” style trophy, 10 x 11 in. (on later-added octagon scallop base for lamp conversion) engraved “Carole to Clark” 12-25-1939” and attributed by recent owner Billie Nelson Tyrrell of the Antique Doll Emporium as a Christmas 1939 gift from Carole Lombard to her husband of nine months, Clark Gable. Coincidentally, the Los Angeles premiere of Gone With the Wind was just three days later, on Dec. 28, 1939, and this may have some connection to the timing of this gift. Lamp-conversion interior workings have been removed, leaving original loving cup seated atop the 3 in. high by 9 in. diameter added pedestal base. Heavily tarnished throughout exterior and interior surfaces, though free of noticeable dents or other rough treatment; very good condition.

So I guess it was a silver cup lamp? Wonder where it had been hiding all these years? Well I hope it ended up with a good Clark and Carole fan, since I wasn’t able to win it!

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!