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Location: FIRENZE, (FLORENCE) TUSCANY, ITALY
Scene: FLORENCE Palazzo Vecchio
Description: Vintage Silver & Enamel Souvenir Travel Bracelet Shield Charm
Measurements:
| Height: 5/8 inch |
Width: 1⁄2 inch |
| Depth: 1/8 inch |
Weight: 1.0 grams |
Condition: Beautiful detail and in excellent condition for its age!
Shipping: I'd be happy to combine shipping if you win more than one charm! |
| <spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"> About Shield Charms: |
History
These sterling silver enamelled travel shield charms were popular with European, British and American travelers in the 1940's, 1950's 1960's, 1970's, and are highly collectible items today. The colorful vintage / retro look is very appealing to collectors and are quite the conversation piece. Some have a vintage patina and some look like they are brand new even if they are over 50 or 60 years old. They are wearable postcards and miniature works of art.
Women documented their travels by collecting a souvenir shield charm depicting the town or country coat of arms crest, a scenic picture of the area, castles, a famous landmark (Eiffel Tower), building (White House), person from history (Mozart) or an event (Olympics). These charms were often given to women as gifts from their men who were traveling abroad.

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FLORENCE Palazzo Vecchio
Florence (Italian: Firenze) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, Italy, and of the province of Florence.
From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Florence lies on the Arno River and has a population of around 500,000 people, plus a suburban population in excess of 200,000 persons (about 1,000,000 with the important near city Prato). A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and was long ruled by the Medici family. Florence is also famous for its magnificent art and architecture. The city has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.
The "Historic Centre of Florence" was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.
The Palazzo Vecchio (IPA pronunciation: [palatzo vɛkio]) (Italian for Old Palace) is the town hall of Florence, Italy. This massive, Tuscan Gothic,[1] crenellated fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. Overlooking the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi, it is one of the most significant public places in Italy.
Originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence, it was also given several other names: Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori, and Palazzo Ducale, in accordance with the varying use of the palace during its long history. The building acquired its current name when the Medici duke's residence was moved across the Arno to the former Palazzo Pitti.
In 1299,[2] the commune and people of Florence decided to build a palace, deserving of its importance and giving greater security, in times of turbulence, to the magistrates. Arnolfo di Cambio, the architect of the Duomo and the Santa Croce church, began constructing it upon the ruins of Palazzo dei Fanti and Palazzo dell'Esecutore di Giustizia, once owned by the Uberti family. Giovanni Villani (1276–1348) wrote in his Nuova Cronica that the Uberti were "rebels of Florence and Ghibellines", stating that the plaza was built so that the Uberti family homes would never be rebuilt on the same location.[2] Giovanni Villani wrote that Arnolfo di Cambio incorporated the ancient tower of the Foraboschi family (the tower then known as "La Vacca" or "The Cow") as the substructure of the tower into its facade;[2] this is why the rectangular tower (height 94 m) is not directly centered in the building. This tower contains two small cells, that, at different times, imprisoned Cosimo de' Medici (the Elder) (1435) and Girolamo Savonarola (1498). The tower is named after its designer Torre d'Arnolfo. The solid cubicle shaped building is enhanced by the simple tower with its Lederle clock.
The large, one-handed clock was originally constructed by the Florentine Nicol� Bernardo, but was replaced in 1667 by a clock made by Vincenzo Viviani.
The cubical building is built in solid rustic stonework, with two rows of two-lighted Gothic windows, each with a trefoil arch. Michelozzo Michelozzi added decorative bas-reliefs of the cross and the lily in the spandrels between the trefoils. The building is crowned with projecting crenellated battlement, supported by small arches and corbels. Under the arches are a repeated series of nine painted coats of arms of the Florentine republic. Some of these arches can be used as embrasures (spiombati) for dropping heated liquids or rocks on eventual invaders.
The name was officially changed after Cosimo moved to the Pitti Palace, renaming his former palace the Palazzo Vecchio, the "Old Palace", although the adjacent town square, the Piazza della Signoria, still bears the old name. Vasari also built an above-ground walkway from the palace, through the Uffizi, above the Ponte Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti.
Cosimo I also moved the seat of government to the Uffizi. The palace gained new importance as seat of United Italy's provisional government from 1865-71, at a moment that Florence had become the capital of the kingdom of Italy.
Although most of the Palazzo Vecchio is now a museum, it remains the symbol of local government, and still houses, since 1872, the office of the mayor of Florence and is the seat of the City Council.
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eCharmony Vintage Enamel Travel Shield Charms
Visit My eBay Store: echarmony
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Italy Vintage Silver & Enamel Souvenir Travel Shield Charms
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| Bari, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Bari, Italy - Ship |
Bologna, Italy - Coat of Arms |
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| Bologna, Italy - Two Medieval Towers |
Catania, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Catania, Sicily, Italy - Piazza Duomo |
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| Firenze, Italy - Campanile di Giotto |
Firenze, Italy - Duomo & Campanile Giotto |
Firenze, Italy - Florentine Lily |
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| Firenze, Italy - Palazzo Vechio |
Firenze, Italy - Palazzo Vechio |
Firenze, Italy - Ponte Vecchio |
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| Genova, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Genova, Italy - La Lanterna Lighthouse |
Genova, Italy - Piazzo di Ferrari Fountain |
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| Gerona, Catalonia, Spain - |
Messina, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Messina, Italy - Port Protectress |
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| Milano Marittima, Italy |
Milano, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Milano, Italy - Coat of Arms |
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| Milano, Italy - Downtown |
Milano, Italy - Duomo |
Milano, Italy - Duomo |
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| Napoli, Italy - Naples Bay & Vesuvius |
Palermo, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Roma, Italy - 1960 Olympics |
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| Roma, Italy - 1960 Olympics |
Roma, Italy - 1960 Olympics |
Roma, Italy - 1960 Olympics |
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| Roma, Italy - Colosseum |
Roma, Italy - Forum Arch of Constantine |
Roma, Italy - Forum Arch of Constantine |
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| Roma, Italy - San Pietro |
Roma, Italy - She Wolf, Remus & Romulus |
Roma, Italy - She Wolf, Remus & Romulus |
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| Roma, Italy - SPQR (Motto of Rome) |
Roma, Italy - Trevi Fountain |
Roma, Italy - Trinita dei Monti & Spanish Steps |
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| Sorrento, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Torino, Italy - Basilica of Superga |
Torino, Italy - Coat of Arms |
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| Torino, Italy - Mole Antonelliana |
Torino, Italy - Mole Antonelliana |
Torino, Italy - Valentino Castle |
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| Trieste, Italy - |
Trieste, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Trieste, Italy - The Castle of Miramare. |
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| Trieste, Italy - The Castle of Miramare. |
Turin, Italy - Torino the Bull |
Venezia, Italy - Campanile di San Marco |
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| Venezia, Italy - Grand Canal |
Venezia, Italy - Grand Canal Gondola |
Venezia, Italy - Grand Canal Gondola |
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| Venezia, Italy - Rialto Bridge |
Venice, Italy - St. Mark's Lion |
Venice, Italy - St. Mark's Lion |
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| Venice, Italy - St. Mark's Lion |
Venice, Italy - St. Mark's Square |
Venice, Italy - St. Mark's Square |
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| Verona, Italy - |
Verona, Italy - |
Verona, Italy - Castelvecchio Bridge |
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| Verona, Italy - Church of Santa Anastasia and Bell Tower from San Pietro Castle |
Verona, Italy - Coat of Arms |
Verona, Italy - Coat of Arms |
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| Verona, Italy - Della Ragione Staircase |
Verona, Italy - Della Scala Tombs |
Verona, Italy - Juliet's Balcony |
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| Verona, Italy - Juliet's Balcony at Villa Capuleti |
Verona, Italy - Juliets Tomb |
Verona, Italy - Piazza delle Erbe |
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| Verona, Italy - Piazza delle Erbe |
Verona, Italy - Roman Arena |
Verona, Italy - Roman Arena |
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| Verona, Italy - Romeo & Juliet |
Vicenza, Italy - Coat of Arms |
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Shield Charm Collectors Guide
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Types of Travel Shield Charms
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Engliand or UK Charms
English charms usually have baked in enamel and have an ornate sterling silver scroll pattern around the edges. The place name appears in the rounded curve on the bottom in raised silver. Primarily crests of England, Scotland, Wales locations.
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Austria Shield Charms
Many Austrian shield charms have a slightly different shape than the typical shields. A curve on the top. A lot of these Austrian shield charms have a gorgeous embossed Austria Crest (�sterreich Wappen) on the backs.
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Building or Landmark Charm
Important or famous buildings: castles, churches, universities, bridges, cathedrals & museums are depicted on these scenic travel shield charms. |
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Notable Person Travel Shield Charms
Notable people from history are depicted on these shield charms. Favorites in my collection include Napoleon, Shakespeare, The Pope, and John F. Kennedy. |
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Event Shield Charms
Event shield charms commemorate important events and occasions such as the Olympics, World Fairs, innagurations, The Queens Jubilee, etc. |
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Charms in Unique Shapes
Some of the older vintage shield charms were made in different shapes and sizes than the typical shield charm. I love to find these little treasures. (See Koln top left) |
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Ornate Reverse Side
I especially like to find the rare charm with an ornate stamping on the back. Some charms were made two sided with a crest, flag or coat of arms on the back and a scene on the front. I wish they were all made two-sided. |
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Unique Charm Shapes
These types of enamel charms are great additions to your shield charm bracelet. These charms are about the same size, contain enamel and are also of the travel theme. |
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Silver or Metal & Enamel
These lovely cloisonne type charms have enamel baked around the silver or metal trim of the design. Some were created using silver, others were made from base metals such as copper and brass. |
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Enamel Bell Charms
Enamel bell charms are a beautiful addition to shield charm bracelets. They are typically from mountainous European locations. |
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Scenic Shield Charms
Scenic shield charms. The gorgeous mountain, coastline, village scenes are like miniature postcards that document your travels.
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Coat of Arms Shield Charms These colorful charms portray heraldry, a town coat of arms, crests, state or country flags or combinations of these elements. |
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Brass or base metal & Enamel
I really love this type of charm, even though very often they are not silver. The colors are in a warmer vintage palette and they are thicker in depth than the most popular shield charms. |
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Flag, Crest, Coat of Arms
Heraldry, Coat of arms, crests, state or country flags or combinations of these elements.
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Animal or Character Charms
Everyone loves these animal charms. One of my premier themed shield charm bracelets contains all animal charms – from zoos and nature parks around the world.
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Old Vintage Enamel Charms
These enamel charms have a somewhat muted vintage earthone) color scheme. They usually have a strip of silver between the name panel and the scene. The text panel fields are usually white, black or red. They don't get any prettier than this.
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About me:
I have one of the largest collections of travel shield charms in the world. I have acquired tens of thousands of shield charms that are org (description exceeds maximum possible length) | | | |