{"id":10066,"date":"2022-04-16T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T10:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=28841"},"modified":"2022-04-16T12:12:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-16T10:12:10","slug":"luke-honeys-cabinet-of-curiosities-concorde-memorabilia","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/luke-honeys-cabinet-of-curiosities-concorde-memorabilia\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Honey\u2019s Cabinet of Curiosities: Concorde Memorabilia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Luke Honey\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 16 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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I have few regrets in life. That said, I wish I could tell you that I had once flown on Concorde. I haven\u2019t. But I do remember its very last flight over London, hearing that distinctive sound, and running out into my tiny garden to watch the magnificent bird-like airliner soaring majestically overhead.<\/p>\n

Concorde was the world\u2019s first commercial supersonic passenger airliner, an Anglo-French project, initially flown in 1969, with 20 aircraft eventually built. From 1976, British Airways and Air France were the only airlines to fly Concorde, with Braniff International Airways operating a route between Washington and Dallas. Concorde was fast, flying close to the edge of space at a maximum cruising speed of Mach 2.04 (1,350 mph), more than twice the speed of sound.<\/p>\n

The operation ended in 2003, following the tragic crash of Air France Flight 4590 in Paris. From the beginning, the project met with opposition, with noise pollution caused by the sonic boom restricting Concorde to sea and ocean routes. Economies of scale also created difficulties, eventually overturned by increasing the price of a ticket, with an emphasis on first-class luxury service. By the end, some 2.5m passengers had flown on Concorde\u2019s commercial flights between 1976 and 2003.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to understand the appeal of Concorde. It has, surely, to be one of the most beautiful aeroplanes ever designed. Concorde\u2019s passenger cabin was small \u2013 some might even say cramped. Still, the journey between London and New York took a mere three hours; more than bearable when fellow passengers included the likes of Joan Collins, Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Sean Connery and Robert Redford.<\/p>\n

Eighteen years since Concorde\u2019s last flight, Concorde memorabilia remains eminently collectable, with a thriving second-hand market online. Collectors still want a piece of the action. In December 2003, Bonhams<\/a> held a charity auction with a Concorde theme. The sale included Concorde paraphernalia and fascinating bits and pieces removed from a broken-up aircraft. The Captain\u2019s Seat sold for \u00a330,550, the Jaeger Machmeter (measuring the ratio of true airspeed to the speed of sound) fetched \u00a332,900, the \u2018Driessen Double Cabin Trolley\u2019, \u00a36,462, and a \u2018Twelve Place Settings Cutlery Set\u2019, \u00a33,760.<\/p>\n

And the enthusiasm continues today. There\u2019s a surprising variety of Concorde trinkets available online. As I write, there\u2019s a \u2018Concorde Turbo Jet Engine, complete with Afterburner\u2019 for sale on eBay, with a buy-it-now price of \u00a3678,000, \u2018not able to fly, but perfect to dismantle and repurpose into a collectable piece of furniture or art\u2019. At the other end of the market, there\u2019s a set of three British commemorative Concorde stamps, priced with a starting bid of 18p.<\/p>\n

Concorde\u2019s in-flight menus also offer a fascinating glimpse into a luxurious world. Delicacies served at 60,000ft included: Angus Beef, Smoked Salmon, Lobster and Caviar Canap\u00e9s, Guinea Fowl, Truffles, Foie Gras, Fillet Steak, Fresh Strawberries and Oranges poached in Grand Marnier; and on the London\u2013New York route, Game Pie and a Full English Breakfast. Concorde\u2019s wine cellar came from the \u2018finest vineyards\u2019, boasting an impressive wine list<\/a> including claret, whisky, cocktails, liqueurs and vintage Dom P\u00e9rignon Champagne.<\/p>\n

In the final days, Michel Roux, Richard Corrigan and Shaun Hill contributed to Concorde\u2019s culinary excellence, and, in 1998, Christian Lacroix designed the graphics for the Air France menu. A British Airways Final Flight BA002 JFK\u2013LHR menu is currently being offered for sale on eBay at a buy-it-now price of \u00a32,000.<\/p>\n

On the British Airways routes, passengers ate off fine bone china<\/a> from Royal Doulton and drank from Conran Champagne flutes<\/a>. On the Air France Concorde, Raymond Loewy\u2019s sleek flatware cut a dash, comparable with his designs for the Lucky Strike cigarette packet and the Coca-Cola bottle. Gift souvenirs included Wedgwood paperweights, Smythson of Bond Street notebooks, silver photograph frames, hip flasks and signed flight certificates.<\/p>\n

Concorde memorabilia is still relatively affordable, and bargains are to be had. A rather smart set of Concorde luggage labels in blue leather sold for \u00a320 at Reeman Dansie in April 2021. I\u2019m also very much taken with a stylish Concorde silver-plated alarm clock (by Links of London), which sold for a mere \u00a320 at Southgate Auction Rooms last year. I can\u2019t think of a more unusual present!<\/p>\n