Williams Paris 1909

Manuf.:    Williams & Co.

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Model:      Paris

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Spec.:        Solid wood, pear shape

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Year:         1909

(documented or estimated)

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Background facts:

Williams & Co. was one of the most prestigious sporting goods retailers of the Belle Époque, operating a renowned showroom in Paris near the Boulevard Haussmann. While many British manufacturers, including Bussey and Slazenger, supplied Williams with racquets, the company occasionally commissioned exclusive models produced under its own name.

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At a time when tennis was rapidly gaining popularity among France’s upper class, Williams & Co. became closely associated with high sporting standards. The racquet was likely intended for a discerning clientele playing at private clubs or on large estates in and around the French capital. The racquet reflects a moment defined by engineering ambition and the visual language of modern construction emerging in Paris at the turn of the century.