Alexander Kirkwood and Son

Alexander Kirkwood and Son Alexander Kirkwood and Son, established in Edinburgh in 1826.

We are medallists, silversmiths, trophy makers and engravers to the World's Greatest Institutions and Organisations.

Royal Portrush Golf Club, host to the 2025 Open Championship, has been a client of Alexander Kirkwood & Son for over 65-...
17/07/2025

Royal Portrush Golf Club, host to the 2025 Open Championship, has been a client of Alexander Kirkwood & Son for over 65-years.

‘It was 1959 when our family embarked on a caravan holiday around Ireland’, explains David Kirkwood, the fifth generation to lead the historic Alexander Kirkwood & Son. ‘Our last day before catching the ferry home to Scotland was spent in and around Portrush. My twin brothers, Sandy and Archie, were good golfers, so pleaded with mum and dad to try to get them a game at Royal Portrush. My father (the Managing Director of the firm at the time) popped in to check out the possibility and received permission for the twins to play’.

The Secretary was Sir Anthony Babington, who knew the renown of Alexander Kirkwood & Son and its historic connection to the golfing world. ‘Dad said Sir Anthony wanted to talk to him about some business. Some four or five whiskies later he emerged to tell mum he had secured an order to design and manufacture medals for the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship. My father then proceeded to walk some of the course, take some photographs and draw a rough sketch beside the 5th green with Dunluce Castle in the background’.

The design laid out by David’s father, whose artistic talent shaped many of the medals created by our near 200-year-old firm, was agreed by Sir Anthony, who personally paid for the first medal, struck in silver.

This beautiful and simple design showcases one of the most iconic greens of Royal Portrush’s Dunluce course, one of the great links courses of the world. Alexander Kirkwood & Son is proud to be associated with this magnificent club and course.

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Hundreds of years ago, voting to elect members of many clubs and organisations was completed in public with a simple rai...
02/12/2024

Hundreds of years ago, voting to elect members of many clubs and organisations was completed in public with a simple raising of the hand. Ballot boxes became a method of ensuring the fairness and confidentiality of voting procedures and became a feature of governance, especially within the early golf clubs in the United Kingdom and America, to support the election of new members, amongst other decisions.

Often, prospective members of a club were proposed and seconded by existing members, after which a secret ballot determined whether their application was accepted. Those voting were able to place their hand into the ballot box and place a small round wooden ball into either the clearly demarked ‘yes’ or ‘no’ sections. In some cases, only one ‘no’ sufficed to refuse membership, in others, a majority of ‘yes’ votes secured election.

Captured here is a beautiful reconditioned historic British made mahogany ballot box, available from Alexander Kirkwood & Son, estimated to be from around 1820 to 1830, during the reign of King George IV, as per the makers markings on the locking mechanism.

Its origins may be from a golf club or a masonic lodge, where the use of ballot boxes was also prevalent. It is a historic piece, lovingly restored with expert skills and craftmanship and now available to a club or collector.

Measures 31cm high x 24cm wide x 16.5cm deep (24cm deep including funnel)

Henry William ‘Harry’ Vardon, born in Jersey in 1870, went on to become one of the world’s most famous professional golf...
04/09/2024

Henry William ‘Harry’ Vardon, born in Jersey in 1870, went on to become one of the world’s most famous professional golfers, winning The Open Championship six times.

That record, despite attempts from his compatriots James Braid and John Henry Taylor and more recently from Peter Thomson and Tom Watson, all with five wins, remains unsurpassed to this day.

This bespoke trophy was commissioned by one of our long-standing clients, The Country Club of New Canaan - one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States - to celebrate their men’s champion annually.

The trophy is a magnificent bronze of Harry Vardon, the statue itself is 11 inches in height and then sits on a pair of hand carved oval stained hardwood plinth bases with four hallmarked silver plates for engraving names of winners and a hallmarked silver title plate.

It is a great example of the bespoke work of Alexander Kirkwood & Son and displays the beautiful craft of our specialists across metal and wood.

The Country Club of New Canaan

The Argyllshire Gathering was founded in 1871 when several families of Argyll decided they should get together annually ...
20/08/2024

The Argyllshire Gathering was founded in 1871 when several families of Argyll decided they should get together annually to socialise and to compete against each other. Their charitable aim is to promote and educate about the art of Highland bagpipes, Scottish dancing, folk music and Scottish heritage. A great example is their partnership with Argyll and Bute Council, to fund piping tuition in primary schools across Argyll.

The Gathering supports the Oban Games and its world class piping competition, which takes place on 21st and 22nd August this year. The Competition features pipers from across the globe competing in one of the world's foremost solo piping competitions. On the 2nd day, junior pipers compete for the Duke’s Medal where they are required to play a March, a Strathspey and a Reel.

Argyllshire Gathering Oban Games

George Heriot’s School was first established in 1628. Today, this independent day school continues to live by the motto,...
16/08/2024

George Heriot’s School was first established in 1628. Today, this independent day school continues to live by the motto, Distribute chearfullie (of kindness, of support, of generosity) – which is a reminder of their founder’s philanthropic vision.

Approaching 400 years, it is one of the oldest schools in Scotland and is situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The renaissance-style turreted main building is an iconic feature of the City and formed an impressive backdrop this year for the Edinburgh International Festival’s ‘Opening Event: where to begin’.

Each year, Alexander Kirkwood & Son is the proud supplier of the school’s Dux medals which are awarded to the top pupil in each subject. These medals are struck in silver using a pair of steel dies, and feature an image of the founder George Heriot. The Dux of the school (top student) is awarded a special Hallmarked Silver Gilt (gold plated) medal, pictured here.

The Royal Scottish Academy was founded in the same year as Alexander Kirkwood and Son, 1826. It was initially called, ‘T...
12/08/2024

The Royal Scottish Academy was founded in the same year as Alexander Kirkwood and Son, 1826. It was initially called, ‘The Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture’ before it gained its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1838. The founding aims included the presentation of an annual exhibition, and to form a library and collection devoted to the fine arts. The Academy’s collections are housed in the beautiful Georgian buildings at the base of The Mound, right in the heart of Edinburgh, alongside the Scottish National Gallery. Entry is free.

In 1879, the Maclaine Watters Medal was first awarded to champion aspiring artists. Donated by James Maclaine Watters, a lover of the arts. He travelled extensively throughout Europe and the USA in the 2nd half of the 19th century to view art and was also an artist himself, exhibiting at the RSA Annual Exhibitions.

This large medal is struck in copper using a pair of steel dies and is 80mm or just over 3 inches in diameter. Inscribed with the latin, ‘SIC ITUR AD ASTRA’ on the front, which can be approximately translated as ‘Reach for the Stars’. On the reverse, the name of the recipient and the year is engraved.

Royal Scottish Academy (RSA)

The Order of the Thistle is the greatest order of chivalry in Scotland, recognising sixteen Knights and Ladies, Scottish...
25/07/2024

The Order of the Thistle is the greatest order of chivalry in Scotland, recognising sixteen Knights and Ladies, Scottish men and women who have contributed in a particular way to national life. Founded by King James VII in 1687, appointments made to Order are the choice of the Sovereign. In addition to the 16 Knights and Ladies, The Queen, The Princess Royal, and The Duke of Rothesay (the Scottish title of The Prince of Wales) have been appointed as Royal Knights of the Thistle.
Dressed in striking green velvet robes with glistening insignia and white-plumed hats, the Knights and Ladies, led by The King, take part in a grand procession to the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle in Edinburgh, for the Order of the Thistle Service, within the magnificent St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile.
Each new appointment to the Order receives a Stall Plate, with their personal crest, hung in their allotted stall in the chapel. For decades, Alexander Kirkwood & Son has had the privilege of working with the designs produced by the Court of the Lord Lion’s Herald Painter to hand-cut, enamel and then hang, these stall plates.
It was the company’s great privilege this year, to produce the beautiful stall plate for Her Majesty Queen Camilla.

St Giles' Cathedral The Court of the Lord Lyon

The British Golf Collectors Society was founded in 1987 with the aim of promoting interest in the history and traditions...
06/05/2024

The British Golf Collectors Society was founded in 1987 with the aim of promoting interest in the history and traditions of golf, and collecting items associated with that history. The Society has around 800 members, many of whom participate in matches and competitions throughout the year – usually playing with hickory clubs at courses such as Gullane, Kilspindie, Hoylake (Royal Liverpool) and Royal Blackheath.

A quarterly magazine called Through the Green is produced, which contains contributions by members on subjects of their interest or expertise, and includes book reviews, historic reprints and correspondence.

Every year, the President of the Society awards a medal to the member who has contributed the best article or series of articles to the magazine. Called The President’s Medal, it is produced in Hallmarked Silver. Made by Alexander Kirkwood and Son, the 2” diameter medal features Old Tom and Young Tom Morris, with crossed clubs above the medal, and a top bar hand engraved with the initials of the society. The details of the winner are engraved on the reverse. This year’s medal will be presented at the annual President’s Day in May held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Royal Liverpool Golf Club )

The Scottish Universities Golfing Society (SUGS) was founded in 1906 and consists of members who played golf whilst stud...
24/03/2023

The Scottish Universities Golfing Society (SUGS) was founded in 1906 and consists of members who played golf whilst studying at a Scottish University. Annual matches are played against the Scottish University golf teams as well as against teams from Oxford and Cambridge and the Dublin and Queens (Belfast) University Golfing Societies.

In 1988, a match was played between SUGS and a team representing London – which became the London Universities Golfing Society (LUGS) that same year. This match has been played annually, alternating between Scotland and England with venues like Muirfield, Luffness, Sandwich, Walton Heath and Rye.

The 2 teams have traditionally played for a rugby ball, signed by members of the 1990 Grand Slam-winning Scotland squad, donated by Neil Falconer and known as The Falconer Ball. Over the years, the ball was looking a little worse for wear, with signatures starting to rub off. Alexander Kirkwood & Son was commissioned to create a full-size replica trophy with the squad’s signatures hand engraved onto the ball & all results dating back to 1988 engraved on the base. We also created a bespoke transportation box to keep it safe on its travels up and down the country.

The 2023 match was won by the SUGS team, 6.5 to 5.5 – their 10th consecutive win – congratulations!

Scottish Universities Golfing Society

The original Lido Golf Course, designed by C.B. Macdonald, was opened on Long Island, USA in 1914. Macdonald was born in...
25/01/2023

The original Lido Golf Course, designed by C.B. Macdonald, was opened on Long Island, USA in 1914. Macdonald was born in Canada in 1855 and sailed to St Andrews, Scotland to study. Whilst there, he became gripped by the game and played matches against the likes of Old Tom Morris. He turned his eye to golf course design and set out to create golf courses in North America as good as those had had seen in the UK. Examples include Shinnecock Hills, Sleepy Hollow, the National Golf Links of America and Mid Ocean.

Sadly, the original Lido course was demolished by the U.S. Navy to use as a military base during World War II. Ever since it’s disappearance, the promise of The Lido has intrigued many as one of the great lost wonders of the golf world. Until now. The Keiser Brothers, alongside golf course architect Tom Doak, have revived it – over 1,000 miles from its original site in Wisconsin just north of Sand Valley golf resort. Using old records, coupled with contemporary 3D modelling of every contour, the original course has been painstakingly recreated.

To celebrate the first of many competitions on the new course, The Lido reached out to Alexander Kirkwood & Son for a Hallmarked Sterling Silver quaich and Hallmarked Silver Coins. Members were split into two teams – navy and white (the Club’s colours). The coins were placed in the Quaich and only the winning team were allowed to take one! We are told the event was a great success and will be continued annually.



Sand Valley Golf Resort
Dream Golf Resorts

Address

52 Jane Street
Edinburgh
EH65HG

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441315567843

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