The original trophy awarded to the Brazil national team was stolen. (Ewbank's Auctioneers via SWNS)
By Jonathan Coles
The "world's most accurate copy" of the famous Jules Rimet Trophy is up for auction — and could fetch up to $19,500.
The real trophy — awarded to World Cup winners — was stolen in Rio de Janeiro in 1983 and is presumed to have been melted down.
But now you can own what Ewbank's Auctioneers say is the "closest thing you will ever get" to the original.
Created by renowned sculptor Andy Edwards, the trophy has been personally inspected by soccer greats Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst and Pelé.
Edwards — whose other works include the Beatles Statue at Pier Head in Liverpool — meticulously measured the official Jules Rimet replica at the National Football Museum.
(Ewbank's Auctioneers via SWNS)
The result was a 32-centimeter-high, millimeter-perfect replica of a replica cast in the exact same method and materials, including 24-karat gold-plated bronze by Lunts Castings in Birmingham to jewelry standards.
Even the base, originally thought to be made from the incredibly rare Amazonian blue granite and recreated by George Bird in scagliola-style pigmented resin, was reproduced uniquely.
Tom Duggan, of Ewbank's in Guilford, Surrey, said: “It is widely thought that the thieves who stole the original World Cup trophy from Brazil probably had it melted down, so what we have here is the closest thing you will ever get to it.
“Even better for us, we were delighted to show it to 1966 World Cup goal-scoring legend Sir Geoff Hurst at a recent sporting event, and it was amazing to see the man who is the last surviving member of the victorious England team who took to the pitch that day hold the trophy that sealed his place in history.
(Ewbank's Auctioneers via SWNS)
“Sixty years on, we dream of a repeat finish!”
The trophy has now been consigned to auction by Stoke City and Republic of Ireland legend Terry Conroy. It comes with provenance confirming its direct ownership and with a letter from Edwards.
The Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to Cup winners from 1930 until 1970 and was named in honor of Jules Rimet, the FIFA president responsible for establishing the World Cup tournament.
Designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur, the trophy depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, and remains one of the most recognizable symbols in soccer history.
Brazil was awarded the original trophy permanently following its third World Cup triumph in 1970, before it was stolen some 13 years later, and vanished.
The replica is being sold in the England 1966 World Cup 60th Anniversary Auction on July 15. The estimate is between $15,600 and $19,500.