George VI Coronation of 1937, Toy State Coach of England by W. Britain Ltd

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About the Item

W. Britain LTD rare 17-piece Set #1470: "His Majesty's State Coach with Team of Eight Windsor Greys, and Postilions in State Livery", without the box. The 17 pieces are: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (one piece); the State Coach with attached traces; four postilions; eight horses; and three H-shaped team traces. The Baroque gold-and-red State Coach of England, built for the coronation of King George III, has been used for state occasions ever since 1761. Today, the State Coach has light blue lower panels and doors, which was done for the coronation of Elizabeth II, George VI's daughter. For George VI's coronation, however, the State Coach was in its original gold and red decoration, as seen here. This is a scarce, hand-painted set originally made as a toy, but is now in a popular collecting category of by-gone toys and military and civilian miniatures. The lead-alloy toy era ended in 1966 in the UK and the US. George VI and his wife never expected he would be king, but the surprising abdication of his brother, Edward VIII, in 1936 placed him on the throne, where he had to overcome the handicap of stuttering speech and was soon to face the world war. He and his wife rose to the occasion and rallied the United Kingdom through World War II and the blitzkrieg. Here King George VI holds the royal scepter, wears an ermine robe and the Imperial Crown and sits next to his queen, Elizabeth - the future Queen Mother. The four postilions have white breeches, shirts and gloves, gold vests and sleeve stripes, scarlet jackets and dark blue jockey caps. The eight horses are adorned with scarlet blankets, gold harnesses, and brown bridles and reins. This set dates between 1945 and 1952 (the latter George VI's date of death) as evidenced by the use of H-shaped traces that connect to the horses through small holes in their sides; from 1940-1945, the toy was not made, and prior to 1940, the traces were made of wire. This historic toy makes a wonderful and unusual gift - for the collector, the history buff, the Anglophile, the decorator, or any admirer of toys made prior to virtual reality. It makes a great conversation piece for display anywhere in the home, such as the entry hall, bedroom, bar, den, library or office. Please contact me directly by clicking the "Contact Dealer" button below for further information, comments, questions, or for purchasing and shipping options.

Creator:
W. Britain, LTD (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 4 in (10.16 cm)Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 17
Style:
George III (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Lead,Paint,Cast,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1940-1949
Date of Manufacture:
1945
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Slight play-wear and minor scratching, typical of vintage toy soldiers. Complete and nice.
Seller Location:
Quechee, VT
Reference Number:
Seller: T215-045-EW/L1stDibs: LU92863447202