Summary
Coat hanger was made by Bruno Bianchi during internment at Rottnest Island, Western Australia in 1940. Bruno was born on 28 October 1915 in Asola, near Mantova in Lombardy, Italy. He was working as a printer on the Italian passenger ship Remo, when he met a 19 year-old girl, Savina Bianchi. When Italy declared war against the Allies on 10 June 1940, the Remo was moored at Fremantle, the crew were all arrested on that same day and interned. Bruno was later transported to Loveday, South Australia and Murchison in Victoria where he volunteered to work as a farm labourer with an Australian family. At the end of the war, all the Italian POWs interned in Australia were to be returned to Italy. However, Bruno did not want to be repatriated and ran away. He wanted to marry Savina and settle in Australia. Through the assistance of the Gobbo family the couple remained in Australia, they married in 1946.
Physical Description
The handmade coathanger appears to have been carved out of one piece of dark coloured wood. The top has been shaped to accommodate the shoulder shape of hanging garments. The centre of the wood has been removed leaving a round brace at the bottom. Bent wire has been used to shape the hanger's hook.
More Information
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Collection Names
Museums Victoria/Italian Historical Society Co.As.It Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mrs Savina Bianchi, 17 Jun 1996
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Maker
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Place & Date Used
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Inscriptions
Obverse: HARVEY/11 6 1940 Reverse: RICORDO DELLA PRICIONIA/ S.M.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
44.05 cm (Length), 17.05 cm (Height)
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Keywords
Internment Camps, Italian Communities, Italian Immigration, Prison Camps, Prisoners of War, Wars & Conflicts, World War II, 1939-1945