William Britain - Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Reg'd #459993 (1 Viewer)

[mimi5]

Hi Dave;
Thanks for your interest and sleuthing!! Your figures are really nice......

You mentioned 75 pieces to the original set, are you able to identify the 'missing' pieces? What was the 'extra' figure you mention?

Would there have been more Beefeaters in the set?

Comparing pictures, there must be a big difference in technology between 72 year old lead figures and new[er] ones. Are the new ones still painted by hand? My understanding is lead isn't used anymore......right? Where are the new ones made?

I noticed [more in the photographs] each face in my set of figures is slightly different from the other.

Can anyone tell me the original paint used on lead figures and how to care for these figures to preserve the paint?

Is there a William Britain manufacture/production history available?

Terrie

 

[António Figueirinhas]

Hello everyone,

I am new on this forum and am not sure that I am going about this in the proper fashion. If not I apologise and apreciate any feedback.

I have in my posession an incomplete set of what I believe to be the coronation of Queen Elizabeth simillar to the ones mentioned in this forum.

Can you help me identify it? I may be interested in selling.

Thank you for any help you can thow my way.
António

 

[thebritfarmer]

Welcome !!

Yes these are part of the Coronation procession. The coach was the last version, as the panels were painted blue.

You should have 4 horses with riders and 4 without for the Gold State Coach.

The walking figures should consist of 8 without swords and 6 with.

 

[johnnybach]

I hope you don't mind me eavesdropping - but it's not everyday that you see someone unearth buried treasures like this one. Would love to see some more pictures of your set mimi5 -. I bet you didn't realise (or maybe you just hoped) that you set a few pulses racing among the Toy Soldier Brigade. Look after it - I think you do have a treasure there. johnnybach^&grin

 

[johnnybach]

Hi again mimi5 - I was doing a little reading last night about Coronation Coaches - stimulated by your very nice "find" - and thought you might like a little further information about it, which I hope you will find interesting.

The real State Coach - actually began its life as a model, produced soon after it was commisioned. This model is still in the posession of the Coach makers and Coach Harness Makers Company. It was designed by Sir William Chambers, carved by Wilton - and the blue panels (not on your version) were painted by Cipriani. The model was made before building the full-sized coach - and began in the year 1762.

Britains made several sets over the years, to commemorate Coronations - as they came along. Set 2081, made for the 1953 Coronation of QEII, was the largest sold after World War 2 - and the second largest that they ever made. It contained 228 figures - and was on offer only in 1953 from them. I featured The State Coach, Attendants, Sovereign's Standard and Escort. Life Guards, Horse Guards, Irish Guards and Royal Marines. Interestingly, everything in the set was available in smaller sets - though bases of the Officers of the horse guards were painted brown - to match the other pieces - but were only available in green in the smaller sets. This set can therefore still be made up (albeit with some difficulty) - but is still rather sought after and valuable.

Because Edward VIII was never crowned - as he famously abdicated before his Coronation, items prepared for the forthcoming event, also in 1937, were quickly withdrawn - and in consequence are rather rare - and particularly sought after too.

I think that is what the experts are checking out with the details you have given - and why photographs are all important. They will wish to know exactly what version you have.

Your set though, sounds as if it was made for the actual Coronation of George VI in 1937, so is even older than me - and I'm "a wrinkly" now! Hopefully, Dave will soon give you a value for it. I do hope you enjoy it though - and have passed on these little snippets of further information - in the hope that you will enjoy it just that little bit more.

Regards - johnnybach

 

[António Figueirinhas]

Thank you for the information. I realize that I am missing some riders and walking figures. I will search for them and get back to you. In the mean time do you know where I can get an apraisal for the set as is?

Welcome !!

Yes these are part of the Coronation procession. The coach was the last version, as the panels were painted blue.

You should have 4 horses with riders and 4 without for the Gold State Coach.

The walking figures should consist of 8 without swords and 6 with.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thank you for the information. I realize that I am missing some riders and walking figures. I will search for them and get back to you. In the mean time do you know where I can get an apraisal for the set as is?

I would think the walking figures would be worth $20 each

Horses about $25

I would think the coach by itself about $40

Whether you will get that if you sell them is another story.

I have seen sets of rider & horse and another unridden horse sell for $20-$30 for the pair.

 

[jazzeum]

A very nice set. Based on what I read here, I'm assuming that is indeed the coronation Queen Elizabeth II.

If so, then it couldn't be King George VI inside the carriage, could it, for he would have passed away before the coronation.

 

[thebritfarmer]

The one with the blue panels is the one for Queen Elizabeth II.

The first one (all gilt) is for King George VI

 

[Napoleon1er]

I would think the walking figures would be worth $20 each

Horses about $25

I would think the coach by itself about $40

Whether you will get that if you sell them is another story.

I have seen sets of rider & horse and another unridden horse sell for $20-$30 for the pair.

Based on eBay and show prices, a total of $100-$200 would probably be a good price. If they were sold separately, you could get $75-$125 for the coach+train, and $30-$100 for the others.
Hope that helps,
Sandor

 

[thebritfarmer]

I could just cry !!!!!!!!!!

Just found a set 1477 complete and boxed, the only exception being the coach was damaged.

Sold in November for £300 How do I not find deals like that ^&confuse

 

[johnnybach]

Made someone's day though didn't it Scott? You never know, it might come back on to the market one day - and you may yet get another chance. Trouble is, you never know where, when, or at what price, if it ever will.

Keep looking - most of the pleasure comes in the chase anyway.

Nice thing though, and good detective work - best of luck - keep smiling - johnnybach^&grin