CIRCA 1940S

Details

A LARGE PARABOLIC CONCAVE MIRROR
CIRCA 1940S
The plate mounted on three modern brackets
45 in. (114 cm.) diameter

Special notice

All sold and unsold lots marked with a filled square in the catalogue that are not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the day of the sale, and all sold and unsold lots not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the fifth Friday following the sale, will be removed to the warehouse of ‘Cadogan Tate’. Please note that there will be no charge to purchasers who collect their lots within two weeks of this sale.

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Lot Essay

Parabolic reflectors have many uses including signalling lamps, search lights and lighthouse lens reflectors. Very large examples were used as part of acoustic detection early-warning devices designed to pick up sounds from approaching enemy aircraft. The structures were devised by the British air force in the 1920’s, as part of a plan to install a chain of “concrete ears” along the coast that would peer out over the English Channel. The current lot is by repute from Biggin Hill airfield and dates to World War II.

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