Edwardian Sterling Silver-Gilt Presentation Key for the Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home, 1912
Edwardian Sterling Silver-Gilt Presentation Key for the Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home, 1912
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An ornate Edwardian ceremonial presentation key crafted in London-hallmarked sterling silver with a gilt finish. The key features a slender fluted stem enriched with beaded and foliate ornament, an architectural bit, and an oval presentation plaque framed by finely textured ribbon and leafy decoration.
The plaque is engraved:
“Presented to
The Hon. Mrs. Heywood-Lonsdale
on the occasion of
her opening the
Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home
11th May 1912”
The reverse of the plaque is unengraved.
The key bears the maker’s mark “G&S Co Ltd” for Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd., together with the lion passant denoting sterling silver, the leopard’s head for the London Assay Office, and the lowercase date letter “q” for 1911. The key was therefore hallmarked in London shortly before its formal presentation in May 1912.
An ornate Edwardian ceremonial presentation key crafted in London-hallmarked sterling silver with a gilt finish. The key features a slender fluted stem enriched with beaded and foliate ornament, an architectural bit, and an oval presentation plaque framed by finely textured ribbon and leafy decoration.
The plaque is engraved:
“Presented to
The Hon. Mrs. Heywood-Lonsdale
on the occasion of
her opening the
Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home
11th May 1912”
The reverse of the plaque is unengraved.
The key bears the maker’s mark “G&S Co Ltd” for Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd., together with the lion passant denoting sterling silver, the leopard’s head for the London Assay Office, and the lowercase date letter “q” for 1911. The key was therefore hallmarked in London shortly before its formal presentation in May 1912.
4.5"h x 1.25"w x 0.5"d
4.5"h x 1.25"w x 0.5"d
Ceremonial keys were commissioned to mark the formal opening of hospitals, nurses’ residences, schools, and other civic or charitable institutions. They were presented to the patron or dignitary invited to perform the opening ceremony and were intended as commemorative objects rather than ordinary working keys.
This example was presented to the Hon. Mrs. Heywood-Lonsdale upon her opening of the Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home in Shropshire. Its identified recipient, institution, maker, assay year, and exact presentation date provide unusually strong historical provenance.
Ceremonial keys were commissioned to mark the formal opening of hospitals, nurses’ residences, schools, and other civic or charitable institutions. They were presented to the patron or dignitary invited to perform the opening ceremony and were intended as commemorative objects rather than ordinary working keys.
This example was presented to the Hon. Mrs. Heywood-Lonsdale upon her opening of the Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home in Shropshire. Its identified recipient, institution, maker, assay year, and exact presentation date provide unusually strong historical provenance.
Edwardian; London hallmarked 1911 and presented May 11, 1912
Edwardian; London hallmarked 1911 and presented May 11, 1912
London-hallmarked sterling silver with gilt finish
London-hallmarked sterling silver with gilt finish
Presented to the Hon. Mrs. Heywood-Lonsdale at the opening of the Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home on May 11, 1912; later private collection; acquired in Austin, TX
Presented to the Hon. Mrs. Heywood-Lonsdale at the opening of the Bishop’s Castle Nurses’ Home on May 11, 1912; later private collection; acquired in Austin, TX
Antique condition with age-appropriate wear throughout. The gilt finish shows rubbing, darkened tarnish, oxidation, spotting, scratches, and areas of loss revealing the sterling silver beneath, particularly along the stem, raised decoration, key bit, and presentation plaque. The engraved inscription remains legible but exhibits surface wear and darkening. The reverse plaque is unengraved. This is a ceremonial presentation key and was not necessarily intended to operate a functional lock. Please review all photographs closely.
Antique condition with age-appropriate wear throughout. The gilt finish shows rubbing, darkened tarnish, oxidation, spotting, scratches, and areas of loss revealing the sterling silver beneath, particularly along the stem, raised decoration, key bit, and presentation plaque. The engraved inscription remains legible but exhibits surface wear and darkening. The reverse plaque is unengraved. This is a ceremonial presentation key and was not necessarily intended to operate a functional lock. Please review all photographs closely.