~ 1930’s French Geslot et Voreux SS Normandie Liner Biscuit Tin By Bethune ~
A lithographed biscuit tin, in the form of the SS Normandie liner, for the French biscuit maker Geslot et Voreux & made by Bethune.
The tin is flat bottomed with a black hull.
It features numerous gold rimmed portholes and has the ships name on both sides of the bow and across the stern. The deck and superstructure have fairly detailed lithography. The central superstructure lifts off to reveal the tin interior.
Provenance: Christies – Lot 249, Sale 9922, 26th October 2004 where it sold for £538.
~ SS Normandie ~
SS Normandie was an ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, France, for the French Line Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. She entered service in 1935 as the largest and fastest passenger ship afloat; she is still the most powerful steam turbo-electric-propelled passenger ship ever built.
During World War II, Normandie was seized by US authorities at New York and renamed USS Lafayette. In 1942, the liner caught fire while being converted to a troopship, capsized onto her port side and came to rest on the mud of the Hudson River at Pier 88, the site of the current New York Passenger Ship Terminal. Although salvaged at great expense, restoration was deemed too costly and she was scrapped in October 1946.
~ Dimensions ~
The ship has a length of 17.5 inches (44.5 cm), a depth of 4.7 inches (12 cm) and a height of 5.5 inches (14 cm). It weighs 493 g.
~ Condition ~
The finish has wear including scratches. There is a shallow dent to the stern over the ‘name board’ and a slight crease to the port side of the rear funnel. The lid closes tightly.