97 - Benito Mussolini - Tiro a Segno Nazionale (National Shooting Association)

Benito Mussolini - Tiro a Segno Nazionale (National Shooting Association) dating: 1935 provenance: Kingdom of Italy, A set of three silver cutlery pieces, preserved in their original case, presented to Benito Mussolini by the Bologna Section of the TSN (Tiro a Segno Nazionale) to commemorate the TSN Reform Law of 1930, on the occasion of the 30th World Shooting Championships, held in Rome (Farnesina Shooting Range) in September 1935, at whose opening ceremony Il Duce was present. The hallmarked silver spoon (length 21 cm, weight 94 g), with a finely worked handle decorated in bas-relief, featuring a Carcano Model 91 rifle depicted from both the left and right sides along the axis of the stem, the two images mirrored and culminating at the neck in the effigy of a rifle cartridge, also in relief. At the base of the flat, widened handle, a finely executed eagle with outstretched wings, likewise in relief, partially covers the buttstocks of the two rifles and holds a fasces in its talons, beneath which the outline of a shooting target can be discerned. The reverse of the handle with engraved border lines and oak branches in relief at the base. The knife (length 25 cm, total weight 131 g) with a steel blade bearing the mark and stamp "INOSSIDABILE". The hallmarked silver grip, in this case with mirrored decoration, equally elaborate on both sides, featuring in bas-relief a target pistol above the outline of a shooting target, the whole set against oak branches, with a cartridge reproduced in relief at the neck, as on the other pieces. The hallmarked silver fork (length 21 cm, weight 104 g), with a handle featuring the same decorative scheme as the spoon: in this case, two Martini-type target rifles are depicted in mirror image, with the surfaces of their buttstocks finely chequered to stand out against the polished ground. A cartridge in relief at the neck and the outline of a shooting target at the base of the stem; the reverse with engraved border lines and oak branches. The three pieces are preserved in their original rigid case (minor damage and defects, signs of age, one abraded corner), made of wood or leather, with an exterior lacquered to imitate tortoiseshell. The lid with gilt border lines and the TSN emblem reproduced in the lower right corner. The inside of the lid lined with blue silk and bearing the gilt inscription: "30a EDIZIONE DEL CAMPIONATO MONDIALE DI TIRO A SEGNO / AL CAPO DEL GOVERNO S.E. BENITO MUSSOLINI / IL CONSIGLIO DIRETTIVO DEL TIRO A SEGNO NAZIONALE SEZIONE DI BOLOGNA A RICORDO DELLA LEGGE 17 APRILE 1930 N.479 / POLIGONO DELLA FARNESINA / ROMA, IX-1935". The interior of the case lined with blue velvet and specially shaped to accommodate the three pieces. All three pieces of cutlery bear the maker's mark "M/C" with a symbol in the centre, the "800" silver assay mark and the mark "1 / BO" with a fasces in the middle (indicating the first silversmith's licence issued in the province of Bologna). These marks allow the identification of Clementi of Casalecchio di Reno, a firm established in 1912. The quality of the sculptural workmanship is remarkable, both in terms of technique and attention to detail: the ammunition depicted is not generic, but specific to the firearms with which it is associated; the Carcano is reproduced in meticulous detail, down to the rear sight, as is the target rifle, complete with diopter sight and palm rest, etc. All these elements testify to the particular attention paid by those who commissioned the pieces to the representation of the symbols of their affiliation, ensuring that they were displayed with the utmost care and executed to standards of quality befitting the prestige of one of the highest offices in the Kingdom.