THE BELIEFS. The first note found on something that could be like tennis is written by Caesarius of Heisterbach, a monk of the order of St. Bernard, between 1219 and 1223, in his “Dialogus Miraculorum”, in which he explains a game that reveals the devil to a young monk that consists of passing a ball over a fence. 

THE MYTHOLOGY. The Centaur represents the duality between animal irrationality and human civilization. It symbolizes the transition from the instinctive and barbaric life towards the cultural image of man. It is the idea of animal power under human rule. 

THE MYTHOLOGY 2. In Greek mythology, Pegasus is a winged horse of a magical nature. He is intelligent, good-natured, and wild, and can only be tamed by kind-hearted riders. What better similarity! 

Perseus, the other winged helmet myth, evokes the heroic virtues that the warrior man has pursued since ancient times. 

Slazenger, The Demon (1898)

Horsman, Berkeley (1884)

Wilson Ellsworth Vines; Olympic (1940)

THE JUDAISM. Through The Star of David the Slazenger family reveals their Jewish origin. Slazenger puts pride of origin before any commercial interest. Something unthinkable in the current dictates of marketing.

THE ASTRONOMY. Eclipses have always fascinated humanity. Since watching an eclipse is witnessing an amazing natural event, eclipses have been attributed in ancient times to an amplification of the magnetic force. 

THE ADVENTURE. “Clipper” was a high-speed sailing ship that appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. The first transoceanic seaplane for passengers that the PanAm company arranged in 1935 was also called “Clipper”. 

Slazenger, The Demon (1898)

Clapshaw & Cleave, The Eclipse (1920)

Dayton Clipper (1939)

THE MASONRY. The Compass is the symbol of the spirit and its power over matter. Freemasonry associates it with stability, uniformity and rectitude. “Perfect Balance”. In 

this case it does not reach the 90º characteristic of the Masonic compass, but its choice is significant. 

THE EPIC. “Pioneer” is associated with conquest. From the colonization of America to the aerospace probe. Pioneer is synonymous with innovation, developing something new. Dunlop evolves this model for more than a decade.

THE DIDACTIC. Slazenger introduces “rules of use” or “practice tips” right on the racket. Totally innovative concept developed in 1937 by two renowned tennis players: Fred Perry and Dan Maskell. 

Slazenger, Meteor (1955)

Dunlop, Pionner (1954-1962)

Slazenger Perry/Maskell (1937)

THE PREMONICIONS. Spiritual virtues are attributed to the Red Wing, Red Bird or Cardinal (for Catholicism, the cardinal color is scarlet red or purple). Ancestrally, this Red Bird is attributed the quality of bringing messages from the “beyond”.

THE EPHEMERIS. Like the stamps, the rackets were used to record major events, historical events, universal exhibitions and the Olympics. 

PHYSICS. The three electrons that describe orbits around the nucleus are easily recognized as the expression of the atom. In the fifth century BC, Leucippus argued that if we divided matter into smaller and smaller parts, we would end up finding a portion that could no longer be divided. A disciple of his, Democritus, baptized these indivisible parts of matter with the name of atoms, a term that in Greek means “that cannot be divided.” 

Dunlop, Red Wing (1946)

Dunlop, Courtier (1925)

Slazenger Challenge IPT (1969)

THE DRAMATURGY. The French brand Williams & Co recognizes Cyrano de Bergerac, a French poet, playwright and thinker, considered a libertine, for his disrespectful attitude towards religious and secular institutions. Edmond Rostand popularized it through a play. 

THE FORCE. Jupiter, god of the gods, god of heaven and earth, armed with lightning and eagle symbolizing his strength. In ancient Rome, attributes of Justice and Law were granted, which is why a well-known oath was established. “I swear by Jupiter!”.

ABUNDANCE. Golden Sheaf means Golden Sheaf synonymous with Sheaf of Wheat. Wheat is sacred in different cultures and religions. The wheat harvest is associated with well-being, the economy and transformation. 

Williams & Co. (Francia), The Champion (1890-1894)

Slazenger, Jupiter (1961)

Slazengers, Golden Sheaf (1932)

THE POWER. The metallic glove was a symbol of feudal investiture, a testimonial of ennoblement granted by the emperor or king, which in doing so was synonymous with granting a mission or conferring power. 

Slazenger Challenge Power (1957)