1949 FRENCH LINE CGT LAUNCH ILE DE FRANCE NUDES

Description: France, 1949 " Launching of the ILE DE FRANCE ", a 54mm 75grs approx, art medal, in bronze, by Marcel RENARD, pierced, in very fine condition as scanned, edge marked bronze with horn of plenty* (Paris mint). Reference : CGMP p1560 Vol4. CHECK OUT other OCEAN LINERS The SS Ile de France was the first major ocean liner built after the conclusion of World War I and was the first liner ever decorated with the Art Deco designs. She was neither the largest ship nor the fastest ship, but she was considered the most beautifully decorated ship built by the French Line. The construction of the Ile de France was part of the agreement between the French Line and the French government dating back to November, 1912. This agreement called for the construction of four passenger-mail ships, with the first ship called Paris and the second, Ile de France. World War I delayed construction until the 1920s, with the Paris being launched in 1921 and the Ile de France in 1927. The ship was involved in extensive trooping during World War Two. Returned to the French Line in 1947, she underwent a massive two-year reconstruction which modified her profile with the removal of one funnel, giving her a more modern appearance. She was also given some of the furnishings of the Normandie, which had been destroyed by fire in 1942. The SS Ile de France played a major role in the rescue operation after the collision of the passenger liners SS Andrea Doria and SS Stockholm in 1956. After being sold to Japanese scrappers, the Ile de France was used as a floating prop for the 1950s disaster film The Last Voyage as the SS Claridon, where she was partially sunk, explosive devices were set off in her interior, and her forward funnel was sent crashing into the deckhouse. The French Line took the filmmakers to court, and succeeded in obtaining an order to have the funnels repainted, and barring the use of the Ile de France name. The ninth floor restaurant in Eaton's Department Store, Montreal, Canada was styled after the first class restaurant on board the ship. The store's owner's wife had just travelled transatlantic on the liner and when asked what style the new ninth floor restaurant should adopt, she requested in the style of the Ile de France. You can still dine at the restaurant today to gain an idea of fine dining on the high seas in the heyday of the ocean liner. Compagnie Gnrale TransatlantiqueFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The poster Normandie (1935) is one of Cassandre's most famous designsThe Compagnie Gnrale Transatlantique (shortened to "CIE. GLE. TRANSATLANTIQUE" and commonly named "Transat"), known overseas as the French Line, was a shipping company established in 1861 as an attempt to revive the French merchant marine, the poor state of which was painfully highlighted during the Crimean War of 1856. Its first vessel, the S.S. Washington, undertook her maiden voyage on the 15th of June 1864. Aside from operating ocean liners, the company also had a significant fleet of freighters.Although never a dominant player in the trans-Atlantic ocean liner trade (in 1907 and 1908, when immigration to the United States was its greatest, the company's share of the market was a mere 10%) and not possessing ships of either great speed or size, it became renowned during the early 20th Century for its luxuriously appointed liners. The most notable of these early ships was the S.S. France.Although its fleet sustained substantial destruction during the First World War (with a third of its ships being destroyed), the company recovered during the post-war period, with several famous ships entering service. In 1927, the S.S. Ile de France, the first ship to be styled in Art Deco, undertook its maiden voyage.Although passenger numbers and revenues plumetted during the Great Depression, the company was, with the help of a generous government subsidy, able to finance the construction of what must be considered the most famous vessel in the history of the company, the S.S. Normandie in 1935. At the time of completion, the ship was the largest in the world and also the fastest, capturing the Blue Riband from the Italian liner, the S.S. Rex. Her Art Deco interiors were legendary and her streamlined hull design was years ahead of its time. Unfortunately, however, the ship was never a commercial success and her career was ended by a fire during in 1942.Although the company again experienced significant losses during the Second World War, it again flourished during the post-war period. Liberty ships joined the freighter fleet and the liner fleet was boosted by the addition of the Libert, the former German liner S.S. Europa, which had been awarded to France as reparations.The advent of commercial air travel in 1958, however, was to spell disaster for the French Line's passenger ships. Despite the launch of a new flagship, the 66,000 ton S.S. France in 1961, passenger demand slumped as no ship could match the convenience of plane flights that could transport passengers in a matter of hours, whereas by ship it would take several days. The ocean liner fleet became dependent on government subsidies, which were finally withdrawn in 1974. The fleet was subsequently mothballed.In 1977 the company merged with the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes to form the Compagnie Gnrale Maritime.The last surviving CGT ocean liner, the SS France, known to many as Norwegian Cruise Line's Norway is currently (2006) beached in Alang, India awaiting scrapping VesselsSome of the ships of the French Line include S.S. Washington S.S. Paris S.S. France (1912) S.S. Ile de France S.S. De Grasse S.S. Libert (formerly the German S.S. Europa) S.S. Normandie (1932-42, then re-named U.S.S. Lafayette by the American Navy who damaged it beyond repair in New York) S.S. France (1961) (later re-named S.S. Norway) ABOUT THE ARTIST Marcel RENARD, (1892-1974), French sculptor and medallist. He studied at cole des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and then at cole Nationale Suprieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Boucher and Patey. Awarded the First second Prize of Rome in 1923. Gold Medal at Salon des Artistes dcorateurs. Mint Marks used at the PARIS MINT: Plain Edge ==> All medals before March 30th 1832 have plain edges and before 1841 for bronze or copper. Antique Lamp ==> from March 30th 1832 until October 21st 1841 (on gold & silver only). Anchor ==> from October 21st 1841 until September 25th 1842. Ship Prow ==> from September 26th 1842 until June 12th 1845. Pointing Hand ==> from June 13th 1845 until October 1st 1860. Bee ==> from November 1st 1860 until December 31st 1879. Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) ==> from 1880 until now. Interests/Themes keywords : Art medal, Ocean Liners, Maritime, Liner, Ships, Ship, Bateau, CGT, Paquebot. ABOUT US We are professional sellers running a family business, the first in the family who started to sell medals was, about 70 years ago, Matre Albert de Jaeger, he was an Artist, a Sculptor and Medallist he received the Premier Grand Prix de Rome (1935) for his medallic art, he created hundreds of medals and other art objects. In our Auctions and eBay Store, you will find a wide range of World Art Medals and Historical Medals. Beautiful medals, highly collectable and great Gift ideas. We hope you will enjoy your visit to our eBay store ! French business register Siren

Price: 99.99 USD

Location: Paris

End Time: 2024-12-04T11:36:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10 USD