A LARGE ART DECO BRONZE MEDAL COMMEMORATING THE LAUNCH AND M...

Hammer

£170

A LARGE ART DECO BRONZE MEDAL COMMEMORATING THE LAUNCH AND MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE S.S. NORMANDIE, 1935

by Jean Vernon, for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique – French Line, obverse, a standing diaphanous goddess frees a sea-horse from chains, reverse, port-side view of the liner under full steam, inscribed LE HAVRE – NEW YORK -- 68mm.; together with S.S. FRANCE, a smaller bronze medal, 1962, by Josette Hébert-Coëffin, also for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique – French Line -- 53mm., in original card box of issue

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Literature: Maier, Nicolas, French Medallic Art, 1870-1940, Munich, 2010, no. 333

The S.S. Normandie, built in Saint-Nazaire, entered service in 1935 as the largest and fastest passenger ship afloat, winning the Blue Ribband on her Maiden Voyage. However, her time was limited by the onset of war and, in 1942, she was seized by the Americans only to catch fire whilst she was being converted to a troopship and capsized; The S.S. France had a longer career, and in 1979 she was sold to the Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed S.S. Norway. She was renamed S.S. Blue Lady prior to being sold for scrap in 2005, which was completed in 2008.