Wartime Cast Lead Model of a Submarine

A vintage model of a submarine mounted on a wooden plinth. The main body of the vessel is cast lead whilst its protruding periscope, antenna and gun are nails that appear to be made of bronze.

Whether this object was made as a toy or for use in a wartime Operations Room is unknown. Perplexingly, the model seems too substantial to be a toy and too elaborate to be a piece on a WWII plotting table. Either way, being crafted in Britain in the 1940s or 1950s, makes it a unique piece of military history, whatever its exact story.

Adding further sophistication to this brilliantly shaped item is the rich and even patina that covers all parts of the model. The modest wooden base is smooth to its underside to allow for use as an eye-catching paperweight or desk ornament.