Ignazio Maiolino Palermo per N.G.I. Navigation lamp - Copper

Rare NGI steamer lantern (Navigazione Generale Italiana) - punch mark "FR" Florio-Rubattino - Height 60 cm
Description of the item:
Historical Description:
Museum-grade specimen of a large naval lantern (60 cm), belonging to the fleet of Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI). The object bears on the copper body the extremely rare stylized punch "FR" (Florio & Rubattino), the mark that symbolizes the union of the two giants of Italian shipping that took place in 1881.
The lantern was manufactured by the firm Ignazio Maiolino of Palermo, official supplier to the company and to the Royal Navy. The presence of the FR mark indicates that this lantern was issued on one of the great steamships that connected Italy with the Americas at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Technical Details and Conditions
• Marks and Punches: Brass plaque reading "Ignazio Maiolino - Palermo" on the fireplace; circular punch with monogram "FR" cold-engraved on the copper shoulder.
• Materials: Solid copper with a magnificent patina of age, brass details, original Fresnel lens in glass with concentric rings.
• Dimensions: Impressive height of 64 cm.
• Condition: Excellent original condition for a nautical item. The metal bears authentic signs of use at sea (small dents and oxidation) that enhance its historic charm. Glass intact and the structure very solid.
Collectible Importance:
Objects marked "FR" or "NGI" are extremely sought after by Memorabilia collectors of the great transatlantic liners. This lantern represents the golden age of Italian navigation, the same fleet that included legendary ships. A piece of Sicilian and national history that is rarely available, especially in these sizes and with such clear punch marks.