Commemorative medal, LEITÃO & IRMÃO

Estimate €300–600

Description

Silver (916/000), corded border, plaque with applied trawler ship cut out in gilt silver (833/000) and inscriptions "Ilha Graciosa / Ilha do Faial / Maio de 1942", "Foi o Estado Novo que mercê da sua organisação corporativa, tornou possível a construção dos navios Ilha Graciosa e Ilha do Fayal, pruductos da mão de obra portuguesa que darão trabalho a pescadores portugueses e são património da pesca de arrasto" and "A Sua Excellencia o comandante Ortins de Bettencourt, illustre ministro da Marinha e grande animador da renovação da Frota de Arrasto. - do Grémio dos Armadores da Pesca de Arrasto e da Sociedade dos Armadores da Pesca de Arrasto".

Lisbon hallmarks in use from 1938 to 1984, goldsmith's mark Leitão e Irmão, signed Leitão & Irmão and goldsmith's mark Joaquim Teixeira Guimarães (reg. 1909) on the cut-out boat figure.

With its original case lined in velvet and cotton.

Diam.: 14 cm

254 g

Notes

Manuel Ortins de Bettencourt (1892–1969) was an officer of the Portuguese Navy, having held the highest positions, among them that of Minister of the Navy between 1936 and 1944, that is to say throughout a great part of the Second World War.

Bettencourt attained the rank of Rear Admiral and, in his long and illustrious career, particular note is due to his achievement of having piloted the first non-stop flight to the Azores – where he was born.

He was honoured with the highest Portuguese orders, among them the Tower and Sword, Christ and Aviz; as well as foreign ones, having received the French Légion d'Honneur, the Order of the Crown of Italy, the Order of Leopold II of Belgium, the Order of Isabella the Catholic of Spain, and also the Legion of Merit of the United States of America.