MATCHBOX OF DELIGHTS!

Here is something a little different that's in my unit at the Customs House in West Bay, Dorset ...

This rather elegant vintage piece features a 1929 4.5 Litre Bentley, perched on a black porcelain box.

Made in the late 1960s by the company Lesney, who are famous for their brilliant Matchbox cars, this Bentley is a plated version of their Models of Yesteryear range.

During the 60s they started to branch out into the world of giftware, using the Yesteryear models in a variety of different ways. Chiefly as desk decorations, they had anything from pen stands, pipe trays to book ends. Our stylish box was marketed as a cigarette box for the US in their Matchbox 1967 Catalogue, but you could use it for anything nowadays, like chucking your loose change in there!

To add to the 60s glamour, do you remember the groovy TV programme The Avengers?! Well Mr Steed used to drive one of these Bentleys!! It would have looked so cool sat on his desk!!

Come on down to my unit and check it out!!