Vintage Battle of Britain 1940 Spitfire Picture Clock by Ken Broadbent
This vintage picture clock depicts a Supermarine Spitfire Mk1, the single-seat fighter that defended Britain during the Battle of Britain in 1940. The aircraft is shown in gold-tone etching on a dark mirrored panel, with the Spitfire outline built up from small clock parts and mechanical components, including gears, springs and wheels. The design is signed by Ken Broadbent and is set in a wooden-effect frame. A round clock face with Roman numerals is mounted to the right of the aircraft, and a gold-coloured plaque reads “The Battle of Britain 1940” above a quotation attributed to Winston Churchill: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” A small Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 caption is etched along the lower left of the panel.
Condition and Collector Appeal
The piece is presented in a wooden-effect frame with a gold-coloured inner border. The etched Spitfire, the signature and the Churchill plaque all appear intact, and the clock face is in place. The clock is described as made from clock parts, but its operation has not been tested for this listing, so prospective buyers should check the movement before purchase. Its combination of aviation subject matter, Battle of Britain commemoration, a Churchill quotation and a clock element may appeal to collectors of RAF memorabilia, Spitfire enthusiasts and those interested in mixed-media wall art from the late twentieth century.
