The history of the Venus Rosewater dish for the Wimbledon ladies singles champion
Joseph Russell
Published Apr 03, 2026
The Wimbledon ladies champion receives the Venus Rosewater dish on Centre Court, but how did it come to be that it is awarded? What is significant about it?
Wimbledon has two of the better trophies in the sporting world for the singles champions in the Women’s and Men’s events.
The Men have their gold trophy, nothing special there, but instead of a trophy, the ladies champion receives something a bit more unique.
A dish.
The Venus Rosewater dish has been awarded since 1886, and the reason for it being awarded are a little archaic.
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Venus Rosewater dish
The Venus Rosewater dish is actually a replica of a replica.
Made in 1864 by Elkington and Co in Birmingham, it is partially gilded sterling silver and has a diameter of 18 and three-quarter inches.
It is a copy of a Casper Enderlain design, with the absolute original alongside the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris.
Venus is seen as the Roman goddess, of amongst others, victory.
A rosewater dish was used in 19th century England to catch excess water used after eating to wash one’s hands.
As women would traditionally oversee housekeeping duties such as this in the 1800s, some believe the Venus Rosewater dish to be sexist – especially as the Men receive their gold trophy.
Do they keep the dish?
The winner does not keep the Venus Rosewater dish – staying at the museum in SW19 permanently.
They do receive a replica – which has the names of al previous champions engraved on to it.
Martina Navratilova has won it the most times – with nine victories between 1978 and 1990.
In the amateur era, Helen Wills Moody won eight times between 1927 and 1938.
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