ANTIQUE 20thC EDWARDIAN SOLID SILVER & ENAMEL CASED PRESENTATION SHOVEL c.1904

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1904

ORIGIN: Birmingham, England

MAKER: William James Dingley

WEIGHT: 1575grams

ENGRAVINGS: "Presented to Sir George Armytage Bart, on the occasion of his cutting The First Sod for the new sewerage works for the Urban District of Fleetwood, 21st March 1905"

Antique 20th Century Edwardian solid silver and enamel presentation shovel, exceptionally large, the solid silver blade is engraved "Presented to Sir George Armytage Bart, on the occasion of his cutting The First Sod for the new sewerage works for the Urban District of Fleetwood, 21st March 1905", silver mounted wooden handle with D-shaped finial, both the blade and the handle are mounted with two large enamelled armorials, one for the Armytage family, with the motto "Semper Paratus" and the enamelled motto "Sanitas Est Vita", the other probably for the town of Fleetwood, Lancashire.

Such presentation pieces were made for ceremonies called "sod-cutting" or "groundbreaking", a traditional ceremony that celebrates the first day of construction for new projects or buildings. The ceremonial shovel used on such occasions is meant to be saved and displayed.

This particular piece is unsually large and well enamelled, it comes in the original wooden presentation box with key. The shovel is an important record of the Edwardian works in Lancashire, and is pictured in a photo showing the event in 1905 (Lancashire Image Archive). On the back is clearly visible Sir George Armytage holding the shovel. Each part is Hallmarked English silver (925 Standard), Birmingham, year 1904 (e), Maker's mark W.J.D. (William James Dingley).

Shovel's Length: 75cm

Shovel's Width: 18.2cm

Shovel's Weight: 1575g