Mid Century Armorial Bronze Scottish Heraldic Plaque – Duncan Arms, Obe, Ministry of Supply Glasgow, c.1940s

Details

Description

Important Historical Mid Century Bronze Scottish Heraldic Plaque – Duncan Arms, OBE, Ministry of Supply Glasgow, c.1940s
This rare mid-20th … Read more Important Historical Mid Century Bronze Scottish Heraldic Plaque – Duncan Arms, OBE, Ministry of Supply Glasgow, c.1940s
This rare mid-20th century painted bronze heraldic plaque is a striking example of British armorial art, produced for official display rather than public sale. Richly cast and hand-painted, it bears the arms of the Duncan family, mounted within the circlet and badge of the Order of the British Empire – a combination directly associated with Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, GBE, Minister of Supply during the Second World War.
Heraldic Achievement
Arms (Shield): Red ground with a gold chevron, between two cinquefoils and a hunting horn – the traditional Duncan family arms.
Crest: A ship under full sail, decorated with red cinquefoils, symbolising Scotland’s seafaring and mercantile heritage.
Supporters: Allegorical figures – one holding a torch (Enlightenment/Knowledge), the other a hammer (Industry/Labour).
Motto: Consilio et Prudentia (“By Wisdom and Prudence”).
Order of the British Empire: Encircled by the OBE motto For God and the Empire, with the cross of the order suspended below.
Provenance
Part of the original wooden case that housed the plaque remains, bearing a label addressed to:
Major Jackson Millar, Regional Controller, Ministry of Supply,
21 Glassford Street, Glasgow.
The Ministry of Supply (1939–1959) oversaw Britain’s wartime and post-war industrial production. This provenance connects the plaque directly to the Glasgow offices and, by extension, to Britain’s WWII effort under Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, GBE.
Dating
Securely placed in the mid-20th century, c.1940s–1950s.
Dimensions & Weight
Height: 38.5 cm
Width: 35 cm
Thickness: 0.6 cm
Weight: 13 kg

Collecting Significance
This plaque unites Scottish heraldry, wartime history, and civic identity in a single decorative piece.
Ideal for collectors of:
Heraldic and armorial art
Scottish history and memorabilia
WWII and Ministry of Supply artefacts
Mid-century decorative bronzes
Summary
A historic and finely crafted 13 kg bronze heraldic plaque, linking the Duncan family arms and the Order of the British Empire to Britain’s wartime industrial heritage in Glasgow. With its impressive scale, bold colour, and documented provenance, it is both a decorative statement and a significant collector’s item.

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