Bulletin No. 75 - Summer 2026

Welcome to our summertime special commencing with an historic pair of autograph signed portrait photographs originally donated by Winston and Clementine Churchill to a 1941 War Weapons Week fundraiser auction conducted by their kinsman the 10th Duke of Marlborough in his capacity as Mayor of Woodstock. As reported in Tatler magazine at the time the two portraits proved to be the star lot of an open air auction when knocked down by the gavel-wielding duke to enthusiastic applause.

Artifacts relating to British airborne forces of any date are difficult to find but items from the earliest years especially so. Thus we are pleased to offer a pair of silver figures of paratroopers from the 1940s, fashioned by London craftsmen in the time honoured traditions of mess silver. The use of a hunting horn in the face of impending oblivion reaches back to the winner of the ‘Tally-Ho’ VC on the Somme in 1916, and, as evidenced by our 13 Para example, was a quirk enthusiastically adopted by early airborne officers.

A couple of fascinating objects together with French impressionist’s impression of the ceremonial pomp the 1953 Coronation bring up the rear of our featured items. First of the objects is this extraordinary blue glass footed bowl emblazoned with coat of arms of Mrs Thatcher with provenance to the dispersal of her estate in 2014. And finally we present a highly attractive gold and enamel pendant medallion created to commemorate George III’s recovery from ‘madness’ in 1789 that takes us to the heart of court life.

As ever there is much else besides on the newly updated site so please feel free to contact us with any questions or come and see us in person in the Piccadilly Arcade.  

James, Toby, George & Wesley