A handmade Bairstow Manor (Staffordshire, U.K.) glazed figure modeled as a larger-than-life Winston Churchill sitting at the controls of an RAF Spitfire airplane during the Battle of Britain. The Battle of Britain began in the summer of 1940, just months after Churchill became Prime Minister. The Battle was fought entirely by air, with Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) successfully defending the skies against the German Luftwaffe.
A month before the Battle, Churchill delivered his most famous address to the House of Commons, his immortal “Finest Hour” speech. Depicted in the uniform of the Second World War Royal Air Force, Churchill holds his signature cigar in his mouth while his right hand is raised in the “’V’ for Victory” sign he made famous during World War II. The Spitfire fighter plane sits atop a beautifully decorated blue and white cloud, and is hand painted in camouflage colors with the RAF emblem and the motto “W40C,” representing Churchill’s initials (“WC”) and the Battle’s historic year (“40”). After the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire became the backbone of the RAF, and saw action in the European, Mediterranean, Pacific, and South-East Asian theatres.
Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire served in several roles, including interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter-bomber and trainer, and continued in service until the 1950s. This historic figurine was the first time Churchill has been so depicted and was produced in a limited edition. This highly desirable commemorative collectible is an excellent piece for enthusiasts and connoisseurs of British and European history, collectors of Militaria, Churchilliana, and admirers of historical leaders—the ideal addition to a library, study, mantle, or desk.
