100 - Fascism-corporate syndicalism, Trieste, object donated by the Workers' Cooperatives to the Hon. Lino Domeneghini for his election to the Chamber of Deputies on 24 April 1929. Overall height 28 cm; base 10 x 8 cm

Fascism-corporate syndicalism, Trieste, object donated by the Workers' Cooperatives to the Hon. Lino Domeneghini for his election to the Chamber of Deputies on 24 April 1929. Overall height 28 cm; base 10 x 8 cm Bronze sculpture depicting a naked hero, most likely the Titan Prometheus, with a staff in his right hand and an eagle with outstretched wings on his left shoulder. The bronze statuette bears the engraved signature of the German sculptor Julius Paul Schmidt-Felling (1835–1920). Complete with original black marble base with a silver plaque applied, finely engraved with the fasces and dedication: “TO THE HON. LINO DOMENEGHINI – THE EMPLOYEES OF THE WORKERS' COOPERATIVES – DDD- TRIESTE, 25.IV.VII”. The symbolism of this gift object and the reference to Prometheus is very complex, as is the human and political history of Domeneghini, one of the most interesting figures of early fascist trade unionism. Prometheus, a young hero and friend of humanity and progress, well represented the thirty-year-old parliamentarian who had just been elected in that constituency and who in Trieste was also Secretary of the Industry, Commerce and Agriculture Union. Domeneghini was born in Carcina, in the province of Brescia, in 1899. At just 17, he became a war volunteer. He commanded the Brescian action squads, the Lower Brescian Militia Cohort, and finally the "Disperata." He soon became a direct collaborator with Augusto Turati, National Secretary of the PNF. In 1923, he headed the fascist agricultural workers' unions in the Brescia area. In 1925, he was an official of the Provincial Union of Fascist Farmers, and in 1927, Inspector of the Brescia Provincial Federation of Trade Unions. In the same year, he was appointed General Secretary of the Provincial Office of the Fascist Union in Grosseto, and in April 1928, Special Commissioner of the Parma Provincial Office. His unstoppable rise to the top of the Party was, however, interrupted, at just 35, by an assassination attempt. The object is in excellent condition.