Italy - Military equipment - 1988

Hand-Hammered Solid 800 Silver with a total weight of 671 gr Military Mess Tin "De Benedetti" – From Prof. Luigi Peresson Collection
An incredible, one-of-a-kind collector's item. This is a faithful, full-scale reproduction of a military mess tin (gavetta), entirely crafted from solid 800 silver.
This heavy and substantial piece was custom-commissioned for and owned by Professor Luigi Peresson (1925-2011), the renowned Italian psychologist, psychotherapist, and founder of CISSPAT (Centro Italiano Studio Sviluppo Psicoterapia A Breve Termine). He remains a key figure in the history of Italian psychology and psychosynthesis.
Both the main body and the lid are stamped with the prestigious silversmith mark "De Benedetti" and explicitly marked "battuta a mano" (hand-hammered). This certifies that the piece was shaped manually through hours of master-level artisan silversmithing.
The front features an engraved philosophical maxim signed by the Professor: "Si comincia sempre dalla gavetta" (translated: "One must always start from the bottom / from the mess tin"), followed by his signature "L. Peresson". This brilliant wordplay bridges the physical military object with the psychological concept of humility, hard work, and professional growth.
This masterpiece seamlessly combines 20th-century Italian luxury silversmithing with an outstanding cultural provenance. Perfect for collectors of fine silver, elite military replicas, or historical academic memorabilia.