Lot 996

Description

Bronze specimens of the plaques awarded to H.M.A.S. Sydney by the city of Sydney to commemorate her victory over the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni.

These solid bronze plaques 35cm in diameter and weighing 7kg each were cast from the original full size plaster artist's models. Two sets of the original plaques were made, one being afixed in Sydney Town Hall and the other on board H.M.A.S. Sydney which was lost on 19 Nov41. 1. H.M.A.S. Sydney- Cruiser, 6,830 tons, eight 6 inch guns, eight 21 inch torpedo tubes, 32 1/2 knots. 2. Bartolomeo Colleoni- 'Condottieri' Class cruiser, 5,069 tons, eight 6 inch guns, four 21 inch torpedo tubes, 40 knots. Named after a soldier of fortune of the Renaissance, whose statue in Venice is considered to be one of the world's greatest equestrian sculptures.