• Width:
  22 Inches
• Height:
  6 Inches
• Depth:
  13 Inches

An incredible memento from one of history's most prominent families, this fabulous, complete motor car picnic case was a gift from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to his daughter, Lady Sarah Churchill, also known as Sarah Tuchet-Jesson, Baroness Audley. Created by Brexton for H.A. Fox & Company of London, this service for six is outfitted with impeccable, all original Brexton china, flatware and Bakelite ware, held snuggly in place with original straps. Sets like this were specially produced for VIP clients of the H.A. Fox & Co. attending the Festival of Britain in 1951. Housed in a case covered in charming green and yellow checked celluloid, the set comprises two thermoses, two Brexton food boxes, three glass bottles with Bakelite caps, salt and pepper shakers, a set of Bandalasta nesting cups, six china teacups and sectioned rectangular plates, all decorated in a modern floral pattern, and Brexton flatware in chromeplate and stainless steel. Even without its incredible charm and stunning provenance, this set would be in a class all its own, as motor car sets were usually made to serve four at the most. Services for six were much rarer, due to space constraints, but this set fits in all the necessities for a stylish outdoor meal with gracious ease. Pristine condition.

The case bears three plaques. The first reads "H.A. Fox & Co. LTD, Celebrated Festival of Britain/Motorcar Picnic/3-5 Burlington Gardens/Old Bond St. W.I." The second reads "Compliments from H. A. Fox & Co. LTD/Miss Sarah Churchill/Pinewood Studios." The third plaque, attached to the inside lid, reads "Motorcar Picnic/Copyright reserved/Patent/Brexton Fox No. 2452."

Circa 1950

22" wide x 13" deep x 6" high

Born Sarah Millicent Hermione Churchill, Lady Sarah Churchill was the third child of Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, and the former Clementine Hozier. She was a successful actress, and is remembered for her 1951 role in the film Royal Wedding, starring opposite Fred Astaire. In the same year, she had her own television show.

The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition which opened in London and around Britain in May 1951. Called "a tonic to the nation," it was an attempt to give Britons a feeling of recovery and progress and to promote better-quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities following the war. The Festival also celebrated the centenary of the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Brexton was the trade name of a company called "Brookes and Sexton", who also produced picnic sets under the name "Sirram". Brexton sets were often



fitted with Bandalasta plastic products. Bandalasta was the name given to a series of plastic wares made from a synthetic resin discovered and developed by British Chemists in the 1920s. Bandalasta was produced by an English firm, Brookes and Adams, and was also used extensively in high quality picnic sets, assembled by other companies such as Brexton, Coracle, Garrison and ILAT.