{"id":4918,"date":"2026-05-19T14:04:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T14:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/?p=4918"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:04:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T14:04:48","slug":"antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Solid Silver Presentation Trowel \u2013 Birmingham 1931 by Turner &#038; Simpson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A silver presentation trowel is one of the most distinguished ceremonial gifts in British silver. Traditionally used to mark the laying of a foundation stone, the opening of a building, or an important public or private occasion, it carries a sense of history, achievement and permanence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This fine <strong>antique solid silver presentation trowel<\/strong>, hallmarked <strong>Birmingham 1931<\/strong> and made by the renowned silversmiths <strong>Turner &amp; Simpson<\/strong>, is a superb example of 1930s British craftsmanship. Beautifully restored to near-new condition and unusually free from previous engraving, it offers a rare opportunity to create a truly personal commemorative piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Rare Blank Silver Presentation Trowel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many antique presentation trowels were originally engraved for a specific ceremony, making examples with a clear, blank blade much harder to find. This piece is especially desirable because the blade offers a generous plain area, ideal for adding a new inscription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A name, date, building name, company dedication or personal message could be engraved, making it perfect for a meaningful presentation or keepsake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be ideal for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A new house build<br>A foundation stone ceremony<br>An architectural or construction presentation<br>A building opening<br>A retirement gift<br>A company milestone<br>A civic or commemorative occasion<br>A collector of antique silver<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Made by Turner &amp; Simpson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This trowel was crafted by <strong>Turner &amp; Simpson<\/strong>, respected Birmingham silversmiths known for producing quality silverware throughout the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fully hallmarked in <strong>Birmingham in 1931<\/strong>, it belongs to the interwar period, when British silver continued to be made with impressive attention to weight, balance and finish. Its clean form and excellent gauge give it both practical strength and ceremonial elegance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Substantial Solid Silver Quality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Weighing an impressive <strong>176 grams<\/strong>, this is a substantial piece of solid silver. The weight gives the trowel a reassuring quality in the hand, while the proportions make it elegant and well balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The blade measures <strong>14 cm long by 8.5 cm wide<\/strong>, with an <strong>11.5 cm handle<\/strong> and an overall length of <strong>25 cm<\/strong>. It is large enough to make a strong presentation piece, yet refined enough to display beautifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maker:<\/strong> Turner &amp; Simpson<br><strong>Hallmark:<\/strong> Birmingham, 1931<br><strong>Material:<\/strong> Solid silver<br><strong>Blade Size:<\/strong> 14 cm long x 8.5 cm wide<br><strong>Handle Length:<\/strong> 11.5 cm<br><strong>Total Length:<\/strong> 25 cm<br><strong>Weight:<\/strong> 176 grams<br><strong>Condition:<\/strong> Expertly restored to near-new condition<br><strong>Engraving:<\/strong> Blank blade suitable for personal engraving<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professionally Restored to Near-New Condition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This antique silver trowel has been expertly restored to <strong>near-new condition<\/strong>, allowing its polished finish, quality and form to be fully appreciated. The restoration has been carried out with care, preserving its authentic period character while ensuring it presents beautifully as a gift or collector\u2019s piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a rare combination: a genuine antique silver presentation trowel with historic charm, restored condition and a blank blade ready for a new dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Meaningful Silver Gift with Lasting Importance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike many modern gifts, a solid silver presentation trowel has genuine ceremonial significance. It is a gift designed to mark an occasion that matters \u2014 something connected with achievement, building, legacy and new beginnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether used in an official ceremony or given privately as a prestigious keepsake, this piece has the presence and quality to be treasured for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This <strong>antique solid silver presentation trowel by Turner &amp; Simpson<\/strong>, hallmarked <strong>Birmingham 1931<\/strong>, is a rare and beautifully made piece of British silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With its substantial <strong>176 gram<\/strong> weight, excellent gauge, restored near-new condition and unusually blank blade for engraving, it is ideal as a commemorative gift, ceremonial trowel, architectural presentation piece or collector\u2019s item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A fine example of 1930s British craftsmanship \u2014 elegant, meaningful and ready to be personalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a link to buy this silver trowel &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/antique-silver-gifts\/antique-silver-presentation-trowelts1931\/\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#ed3232\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Click Here<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A silver presentation trowel is one of the most distinguished ceremonial gifts in British silver. Traditionally used to mark the laying of a foundation stone, the opening of a building,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4919,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1641,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antique-silver","category-important-silversmiths"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.9.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Antique Solid Silver Presentation Trowel \u2013 Birmingham 1931 by Turner &amp; Simpson | Edinburgh Silver Blog<\/title>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Edinburgh Silver\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/\",\"sameAs\":[],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/edingburgh-silver-.png\",\"width\":472,\"height\":106,\"caption\":\"Edinburgh Silver\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Edinburgh Silver Blog\",\"description\":\"Hand Crafted Silver Gifts\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/strow.jpg\",\"width\":696,\"height\":266},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/\",\"name\":\"Antique Solid Silver Presentation Trowel \\u2013 Birmingham 1931 by Turner & Simpson | Edinburgh Silver Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-19T14:04:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-19T14:04:48+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edinburghsilver.co\/blog\/antique-solid-silver-presentation-trowel-birmingham-1931-by-turner-simpson\/\",\"name\":\"Antique Solid Silver Presentation Trowel \\u2013 Birmingham 1931 by Turner &#038; 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