The Churchil spectacles, which are estimated could auction for up to £2,000

A pair of spectacles belonging to Churchill – the wartime Prime Minister, not the insurance company’s nodding dog – are the highlight lot in the latest auction to be staged at Farleigh Golf Club next month, on December 6 (with viewings on December 5).

Auctioneer Catherine Southon is including a pair of Sir Winston Churchill’s tortoiseshell spectacles made by his opticians CW Dixey & Sons in her Christmas auction next Wednesday, December 6.The full-rimmed round glasses with white dot to tip of each arm, contained within a leather spectacle case embossed CW Dixey & Son London 1777, together with a typed statement from a company director, Mr P. Varnes, verifying that the spectacles were made for Winston Churchill and claiming, “usually three pairs of spectacles were made to Churchill’s prescription and kept at the Cavendish Square showroom, later the Wigmore Street practice. After Churchill’s death CW Dixey had three pairs of Churchill’s spectacles still in their possession. It is believed one pair were given to Chartwell, one pair auctioned in 2011 and this is the final pair.”

This charcoal sketch of Churchill is also for auction – estimated price of £200

Churchill was very fond of his distinctive eye-wear – either half-eye or the fully round style which wear tailored for specific purposes and marked accordingly. The metal dots in the corner of the frame indicate its purpose – one dot for reading only and two dots for speeches, but he also had specially made glasses for sketching, painting, or card playing.

Southon said: “We expect a lot of interest both here and abroad as Churchill memorabilia is always very collectible.”

A catalogue for the whole of the auction will be available from end November. For more details, visit www.catherinesouthon.co.uk. The sale can be previewed at Farleigh Golf Club on December 5 (9.30am to 5pm) and the morning of the sale.

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