A tribute to The Boss
‘Our Gang’ figure of Churchill proves popular,
I found these nine Second World War Canadian Air Force safety posters among my father’s papers. The Department of National Defence confirms they are authentic and that any copyright restrictions have expired. My father worked as an armament officer during the war and was stationed in Coal Harbour, B.C., where he tracked and disarmed Japanese air balloon bombs that landed in Canada. .Interestingly, this operation was so secretive that, even to this day, most Canadians do not realize that Japan attacked Canada in this way. The posters are all 28 by 20 centimetres and are in excellent condition. The artist’s name is “Greg.” Do you have any idea of their value and the market for them? —LYNDA, Calabogie Lake
You are correct in saying your father performed interesting and important, if relatively unsung, work during the war. These balloons were also called “fire balloons” or “Fu-Go.” They were launched by the Japanese during the last years of the war and made use of the Pacific Ocean jet stream to target both Canada and the United States. More than 300 balloons were sighted over North America, but luckily they were largely ineffective.
Your posters are quite a find and provide interesting historical documentation of the daily dangers faced by soldiers of this time. The one depicting ammunition belts being carried the wrong way round warns of damaging the links holding the belts together. Doublechecking one’s work, watching out for springs when disassembling equipment, recognizing Hitler’s face and how not to carry a gun (by its barrel) were some of the other messages.
Military collectibles and antiques is a strong collecting field right now and these rare items will be of interest. They are worth about $50 each. This figurine of Winston Churchill held a place of honour in my parents’ home. He is about 18 centimetres tall and has “Our Gang copyright, The Bovey Pottery Devon England” stamped on the bottom of his feet. Winston now resides safely in my china cabinet and is in excellent condition — cigar and all. —FLORENCE, Lanark
Your figure represents one of the most distinctive and historically significant personalities of the 20th century. Sir Winston Churchill (1874 to 1965) was not only the British prime minister twice, but was one of the all-time great leaders, particularly during the Second World War. He was also a significant historian and writer (literary Nobel Prize winner), an artist and a noted public speaker.
Sometimes this figure is marked “The Boss” and is one of a series of 19 pieces called “Our Gang.” Other figures in this gang were a nurse, a pilot, an officer, a Scottie (Highlander), an ARP (air raid precaution warden), G.I. Joe, and a rare and more expensive (in today’s market) figure of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Fenton Wyness, an architect, was a consultant to Bovey Pottery on the designs of these figures. Churchill is a more common figure, prompting production of it from 1940 until 1957 when the company closed. Collectors pay more when figures include Churchill’s cigar, undamaged, like yours. The market for him is strongest in Britain, where he will fetch in the region of $175. We purchased this sideboard in Hamilton about 1982. It contained a piece of paper stating the following: “Antique Side Board. This is an excellent example of early French Canadian craftsmanship. The pine boards were carefully selected. It was located in north eastern Ontario and was in the family for 3 generations. It is estimated that this was built about the 1840s.” I referred to Early Furniture of French Canada by Jean Palardy and see samples of woodwork detail similar to that on our sideboard and indicating late 18th century. Its overall height is 150 centimetres and its width is 117 cm. We would be very interested in your comments. —KEVIN, Ottawa
You do have a kitchen sideboard. It’s a country version of a more formal Empire-style sideboard. Sometimes these are called jam cupboards.
The main Empire feature is the two overhanging drawers with the turned drops on each side. The “moustache” pulls are Victorian era and this piece dates, at the earliest, to 1860.
These were quite commonplace through much of southern Ontario and Quebec. It’s been refinished and is a ready-to-use commercial piece of furniture, for a modern setting, and will carry a value of $550. John Sewell is an antiques and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to his column, go to the ‘Contact John’ page at johnsewellantiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and Rare Second World War safety posters offer a glimpse into the daily dangers faced by soldiers. how you got it, what you paid and list any identifying marks. A highresolution JPEG photo must also be included. (Only email submissions accepted.) Appraisal values are estimates only.