Good things come in small packages, so the old adage says, and this medal is a prime example. Complete with full sterling silver hallmarks, the medal is from one of the earliest major Table Tennis tournaments, held at the Royal Aquarium in London.

What makes this medal especially interesting is the event for which it was awarded: the Open Mixed Singles. Here we have delightful evidence that women were not only active players of the new game, they played in tournaments with the men.

The ITTF Museum is endowed with many fine artworks that reinforce this fact. One question remains unanswered: who decided to change this format and separate the women from the men?