Bedeutender Dolch des italienischen Marschalls Rodolfo Graziani
The dagger in the shape of a Roman short sword. The handle and crossguard silver, partially gilded. The pommel is decorated with four sculpted Medusa heads.
Personification of the goddess of victory Victoria on the front of the grip. Sheaves of wheat on the back. The quillons with the Roman eagle with lictor's fasces, symbol of Fascist Italy, within laurel and oak branches.
Themaker's signature on the underside of the quillons: "V. Miranda Napoli".
The reverse side of the quillons engraved with a dedication:
"A.S.E.RODOLFO GRAZIANI I PIONIERI DELLA CIRENAICA RICONOSCENTI 1932 - X".
The blade forged in Africa with the inscription: "TENEO TE AFRICA".
Length: 39 cm.
Rodolfo Graziani was significantly involved in the Italian colonial wars in Africa from 1922 - 1934 and conquered Libya and Cyrenaica as a general. After the conquest of Fessan in 1930, Mussolini appointed him vice-governor of Cyrenaica. After the victorious Ethiopian campaign in 1936, he was appointed Marshal of Italy.
Animportant gift dagger of high quality craftsmanship, which was probably presented to the later Marshal Graziani as a gift on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Fascist takeover in 1932.