4 TAMAVO Interior Postcards from 1930s of Navigazione Libera Triestina

Description

Navigazione Libera Triestina (Libera Line):  Four color interior postcards from the S.S. TIMAVO, neatly tucked into a paper folder bearing the line and ship name.
The views show rather ordinary rooms enlivened with beautiful modernist murals.  That was N.L.T.'s calling card - plebian ships dressed up by noted Italian artist Anselmo Bucci (1887-1956).  Bucci had never designed ship interiors before being chosen by the company to dress up their interiors.  Bucci insisted that his work reflect nautical themes and not create the illusion of being on shore.  You can see that ethic in these postcards: the Bar with its abstract aquarium murals, the Dining Room with large panels featuring Egyptian and Greek mythology, the Vestibule containing a long painting of the ship's name combined with aquatic vegetation, and to a lesser extant in the Music Room decorated with folk characters.
Navigazione Libera Triestina struggled to gain a foothold in Italy-California route during the Great Depression.  In 1936 the Italian government dismantled the line and folded the fleet into the FINMARE Group.  The TIMAVO, lovely murals and all, was scuttled in 1940 off the coast of Africa to avoid capture.
The postcards are in very good condition while the folder is in pieces.
Nautiques Ships Worldwide
Add me to your favorite sellers to receive my weekly email of new items
I
Serving the eBay Community since 1998