By the 1970s, Chadwick had secured worldwide recognition. His work was regularly exhibited and his position in the art world had been acknowledged by the appointment (CBE) in the New Year Honours list in 1964.

The figure studies which he produced in this decade explore and develop existing themes, his work a continual logical progression.

Maquette Diamond Wing shows the versatility of Chadwick's mature style. The figures have the traditional anonymous heads, their familiar angular faces based on diamonds and triangles. By placing the two figures so close together the artist emphasises the strength of their stance with their bodies welded together, the positioning of their legs providing a tripod-like base and their diamond wings enveloping each other and overlapping. This format was to provide the basis for much of his later work.