Winston Churchill's reading spectacles - a remarkable piece of British history.

• A pair of Winston Churchill's personal reading spectacles
• Owned and worn by Churchill during his second term as British Prime Minister, circa 1954-55
• Offered in their original case, with outstanding provenance

A pair of spectacles owned and worn by the celebrated British Prime Minister, statesman and writer Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965).

Offered in superb condition with their original case and a letter of provenance from the manufacturer.

This pair of tortoiseshell reading spectacles was made for Churchill in 1954 by the esteemed London optician C.W. Dixey & Son.

The company was established in 1777, and produced eyewear for several generations of the British Royal family, along with famous clients including the Duke of Wellington, Lawrence of Arabia and Charlie Chaplin.

Churchill was a longstanding patron of the company and placed his first order in 1910.

He famously wore the company's Model 1805 frames, with their distinctive round shape and keyhole bridge. Each pair was carefully tailored to fit his face, and according to Churchill's specifications they included a varying number of white dots on the temple tips depending on their purpose. 

The single white dots on these spectacles denote they were used by Churchill for reading. Other pairs were made for giving speeches, painting and writing.

This pair was made for Churchill in 1954, and worn as he served his second term as Prime Minister.

They were later returned to the company for repair but remained uncollected, and when Churchill died in 1965 they were one three pairs of his spectacles discovered in the C.W. Dixey & Son archives.

They come with a typed and signed note of provenance from the company's former director J.R.A Gibson which attests to their history.

This pair of Winston Churchill's spectacles is without doubt one of the finest items of British history we have ever had the pleasure of offering. Their outstanding condition and provenance make them a museum-quality centrepiece for private collections of the highest calibre.

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