West Sussex auction house offers Winston Churchill's slippers for sale

West Sussex auction house Bellmans is offering the chance to get a step closer to Sir Winston Churchill.
Churchill Memorabilia at BellmansChurchill Memorabilia at Bellmans
Churchill Memorabilia at Bellmans

Bellmans is offering the rare chance to bid for two lots that once belonged to Churchill – his monogrammed midnight blue velvet evening slippers from the 1950s and a monogrammed brandy balloon from circa 1960.

Both lots were sold for the first time by Churchill’s family in the political sale at Sotheby’s on the July 15 1998, where the present owner purchased them.

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He is now offering them for sale through Bellmans saleroom in Wisborough Green.

The owner, whose name has not been released, said: “I have always been a huge admirer of Sir Winston Churchill and when Sotheby’s held their first political sale in 1998, I couldn’t resist bidding for a couple of lots. I put in successful bids for his slippers and the brandy balloon and it was a remarkable feeling to hold them in my hands after the auction. Although I am sad to part with them now, I hope that they will be bought by someone who cherishes these items as much as I did. I often imagined the great man sitting in his chair with these slippers on and this very glass filled with brandy in his hand. You can’t really beat that.”

The slippers have leather soles and are 29cm long, Albert style, and embroidered in raised gold thread with the initials WSC, leather lined and stamped N Tuczek, 17 Clifford St, Bond St, London. They are estimated at £10,000-15,000. Sir Winston Churchill’s brandy balloon, with large tulip shaped bowl decorated in white enamel with monogram WSC, is signed ‘E Pope’ and 21cm high. It is expected to sell for £7,000-10,000.

Julian Dineen, specialist in charge of the sale, said: “We are delighted to be offering these two lots for sale which once belonged to Sir Winston Churchill. Both his paintings and personal property have risen considerably since that political sale in the late 1990s.”

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The auction will take place on Tues, March 9 (subject to government guidelines) and further information and the catalogue will be available online at www.bellmans.co.uk. Bellmans, which was founded in 1989, is holding sales from March 9 to 12 and then from April 13 to 16 2021.

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