Engraved Decanter and Glasses for Mickleover Football Club

This commission involved preparing an engraved decanter and four matching whisky glasses to mark the retirement of Mickleover Football Club's Chairman following ten years of service.

The brief called for a coordinated presentation set that would recognise both the individual and the club he had helped lead over the course of a decade.

Reference and Preparation

The club crest formed the central reference for the commission.

Although clear at its original size, the artwork presented a number of challenges when adapted for engraving. The heraldic lions, shield and supporting details needed to remain recognisable when reduced to the scale required for the whisky glasses.

The crest was therefore redrawn and adjusted specifically for sandblasting, refining line weights and internal spacing to preserve clarity across both the decanter and glassware.

A ribbon carrying the Chairman's name was incorporated beneath the crest. Rather than appearing as a separate addition, it was prepared as part of the overall composition, helping to connect the personal dedication with the club identity.

Layout

The decanter carried the complete presentation layout, combining crest, ribbon and inscription.

The accompanying whisky glasses carried a simplified version of the design using the crest alone. This allowed the visual identity of the set to remain consistent while respecting the smaller engraving area available.

Approval Process

As the commission was being presented on behalf of a committee, digital layouts were prepared and reviewed before production began.

This allowed wording, spacing and overall balance to be confirmed across the entire set before the artwork moved into stencil preparation.

Engraving

Once approved, the artwork was transferred to stencil and applied individually to each piece.

The decanter and glasses were then sandblasted to produce a consistent etched finish throughout the presentation set.

Outcome

The completed commission forms a coordinated presentation set, with the decanter acting as the principal piece and the accompanying glasses carrying the same visual language in a simplified form.

Prepared to mark ten years of service, the set combines club identity and personal recognition within a single presentation.