London-based TMB Art Metal, makers of “provenance” sculptures, cufflinks and other items fashioned from actual bits of automotive, aeronautic, locomotive and maritime icons, has come out with a new limited edition Spitfire Mk 1 sculpture stylish enough to adorn any gent’s library or office. Made in a limited edition of 24, the sculptures are crafted of aluminum originating from the Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk III engine fitted to X4276 KL-B, legendary RAF ace Al Deere’s personal Supermarine Spitfire for the latter part of the Battle of Britain and 1940, which crashed on 28th December of that year.

Numbers 1 to 12 will be mounted upon the twelve original pistons removed from X4276’s V12 Merlin and numbers 13 through to 24 upon the 12 beautifully engineered original engine conrods. All are supported by purposefully made bronze stalks with precision engineered ball and sockets which facilitate movement so the sculptures can be placed in various attitudes of ‘flight’. All sculptures are set upon a mahogany and burr walnut plinth and come with a certificate of authenticity signed by one of the original Supermarine test pilots. Now that’s what we call art.