Italian Pole Topper

[Tom M]

My friend has this piece, made of solid brass with no markings. Personally, the quality doesn’t hold high hope for me. What do you guys think?

[Tom M]

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[Tom M]

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[oldflagswanted]

Imo ...

Italian Pole Top ...
... made of solid brass with no markings.
... What do you guys think?

Hello TM:
There were thousands of Italian Fascist
Militant Groups with banners & sword in
wreath tops. As such top quality varied
greatly, and IMO the posted example is
within the observed range of those used.
A full view of the top would be nice to see.
OFW

[Tom M]

Thanks OFW. It is quite heavy as a solid piece of Brass and thick. I will get some more pictures next weekend. My friend is looking at moving it on so maybe a good buy?

Cheers,
Tom

[Tom M]

Managed to get some more photos...

[Tom M]

.....

[oldflagswanted]

Lots of variations ...

Managed to get some more photos...

... & I wouldn't mind having one
like it in my own collection.
OFW
(below) "... such top quality varied greatly ..."

[Tom M]

Thanks OFW! What is a rough value for this? I’ve searched and searched and found none for sale to gauge off.

[oldflagswanted]

PNF flag top prices ???

... What is a rough value for this? ...

I've purchased and seen for sale
fascist Italian tops for ~$400 USD.
I also note that a like Brisone 160b
type is shown in Mussolini's dead
hands, that actual top is priceless.
OFW
(below) As noted elsewhere online.
"In the evening of 28 April, the bodies of Mussolini,
Petacci, and the other executed fascists were loaded
onto a van and trucked south to Milan. On arriving in
the city in the early hours of 29 April, they were dumped
on the ground in the Piazzale Loreto, a suburban square
near the main railway station.The choice of location was
deliberate. Fifteen partisans had been shot there in August
1944 in retaliation for partisan attacks and Allied bombing
raids, and their bodies had then been left on public display.
At the time, Mussolini is said to have remarked "for the blood
of Piazzale Loreto, we shall pay dearly. ...

On 30 April, an autopsy was carried out on Mussolini at the
Institute of Legal Medicine in Milan. One version of the subsequent
report indicated that he had been shot with nine bullets, while
another version specified seven bullets. Four bullets near the
heart were given as the cause of death. The calibres of the
bullets were not identified.Samples of Mussolini's brain were
taken and sent to America for analysis. ...

In 2009, Mussolini's granddaughter Alessandra Mussolini demanded
a police investigation into claims that samples of his blood and
brain had been reportedly offered for sale on eBay."

[Br. James]

Hi OFW,

I am the first to admit that I know little about the Italian Fascist Movement or their uniforms and accoutrements, and absolutely nothing about their pole toppers! That said, yesterday you showed us examples of 24 different Italian National Fascist Party toppers, all with a similar motif! If these were German or of NSDAP origin, we would know that each one represented a different political organization or that some of them were earlier examples of an ongoing and evolving design...but what do we make of these 24 different examples?! Teach us, my friend -- PLEASE!

Many thanks,

Br. James

[Tom M]

Thank you OFW. I appreciate the advice, will look to get it. Agree with B.R James, would love to know more

[oldflagswanted]

Brisone attributions ???

... you showed us examples of 24 different
Italian National Fascist Party toppers, all with
a similar motif! ... what do we make of these
24 different examples? ...
Many thanks,
Br. James

Hello Br. James:
Brisone attributes his 160b sword in wreath
pole top to a pennant "belonging to a group of
Young Italian Girls from a professional school
in Naples." Back when his book (ISBN 88-7133-
245-8) was published, I pointed out a number
of errors as based on period photo details, and/
or missing period photos at odds with his shown
incorrect reconstructions of his pole tops & flags.
See WAF thread t=578638 for that discussion.
OFW
(below-center) Fascist Italian standard period
photo shown by Brisone on page 118, so rare
that he was unaware of any surviving examples -
only two are now known. I found my example in
a San Francisco junk store for $100 in the 1970's.
Also see the Ulric/Bender DE book on page 502.
..............