Hi, Can anyone shed some light on this piece? Its about 18"-20" in length and around 16" high. Its very heavy. Id say around 30lbs-35lbs. I tried google translator but didnt come up with much. This is my first post by the way. Thanks, Gussy View attachment 16348
Welcome Gussy, Interesting piece, someone will be along that may be able to shed some light on it. Could you expand on where it came from or any history behind it. Most likely a souvenir?
Got it from my grandfather who was in WW2, he was stationed in Italy and was also born there. I dont have a clue what it is, my guess it came off a building or monument? I'd love to know more about it and possibly whats its worth?
Looks like it has the King of Italy,Ceaser,Beneto on it. I can not make out the others. Must be a W.W.2 era commerative/memorial thing. It is Fascist era. Rich A. in Pa.
I can't read it, but it sure looks like it was part of some memorial. I hope you find out what it is and let us know. BTW, welcome to the forum.
Gussy, Try reading the names and doing a google search on each one. I found "condot tier dell' empero" roughly translates to "Second tier of Empire". I think RRA227 is on to something; Italian commemorative, and it may be that each name is being honored for whatever reason. Can't read the individual names so if you want to type them out we'll give it a go. Any markings on the back?
thanks dudes, I will take a better photo with my dslr of the front and back and type out everything on it. I'll post it tomorrow evening. going to bed now and have to work tomorrow. thank you all for your help. I hope to find out what it is...
The plate in the form of a roman stone tablet is of fascist origin. It reads "Condottieri dell Impero" which means "Leaders of the Empire", the roman one as was already pointed out. Of the heads I can identify Julius Caesar, the Duce himself, one that might be King Victor Emmanuel III, Marshall Rodolfo Graziani, the other I can't identify. To the left and the right you can see two "fasces", the symbol of power of the roman "lictores", civil servants with special powers who were the guards of the magistrates. Mussolini who based his ideology on the Roman Empire choose these "fasci" as his symbol and so the word "fascism" was created!
It is a commemorative plate taken from a puclic building (possibly a court, or a monument) . It glorifies Mussolini's regime (possibly the March to Rome ) . I have a hard time reading the legends, but other famous men could be George Emmanuel (the King) and Garibaldi (the general that led to the Italian unification)
thanks guys!!!! Anyone know if its worth anything to the right collector? I dont think I'd sell it, I'm just curious more than anything. I will post a better photo this evening. thanks again everyone.
The one on the lower left could be Count Cianno. Your plaque is quite nice and original , but it would be hard to valuable. after a closer look there seem to be two handlebars on eachside, so it could have been incorporated in a brick wall and found in rumble after a bombing.
