Badge
Fattorini and Sons Ltd
Category
Coins and medals
Date
1910 - 1929
Materials
metal
Measurements
28 mm (H)45 mm (W)
Place of origin
Bradford
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246436
Summary
WW1 Air League of the British Empire Enamel Lapel Badge.
Full description
Cast in yellow metal with a white enamelled globe with metal longitude and latitude lines, surmounted by a metal eagle with wings outstretched. Around the globe, a blue enamelled scroll with the words ' AIR LEAGUE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE' and across the globe, a blue enamelled bar with the motto ' IN COELO IMPERIUM' (In heaven control). A metal pin on the reverse. This badge was made between 1910 and 1929. During WW1 members of the RAF convalesced at Polesden Lacey The Air League of the British Empire, now known simply as the Air League, is an aviation society founded in 1909 with the aim of promoting the cause of British aviation.
Provenance
Date of acquisition not recorded, but probably originally at 16 Charles Street, Mayfair, Mrs Greville's London home, and bequeathed by Margaret McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwan (1827-1913) in 1942. This item found on the probate inventory record for Charles Street chattels at Polesden Lacey, miniatures and objects in the safe, page 45.
Marks and inscriptions
FATTORINI AND SONS / BRADFORD (stamped on reverse)
Makers and roles
Fattorini and Sons Ltd, maker