BUCENTAUR on stamp BUCENTAURO

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shipstamps
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BUCENTAUR on stamp BUCENTAURO

Post by shipstamps » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:11 pm

The BUCENTAUR was the state galley of the Doges of Venice, used every year on Ascension Day up to 1798 to take the Doge out to the Adriatic Sea to perform the ceremony of wedding Venice to the sea. But also used for other state ceremonies.
Altogether it is believed there were four BUCANTAUR built between 1311 and 1729.

The BUCENTAUR built in 1727 on the Arsenal at Venice is depict on the stamp of Angola issued in 1999.
1722 Construction of the barge began.
With a length of 35 meter, a depth of 8 meter, was she a two-decked floating palace.
Its main salon could accommodate 90 persons and was covered in red velvet. The Doge’s throne was placed in the stern section; she carried a figurehead representing Justice with sword and scales. And she was lavishly decorated with gold.
The BUCENTAUR was designed by Michele Stefano Conti.

The barge was propelled by 168 oarsmen, rowing in teams of four on its 42 oars; the oars had a length of 11 meter. An other 40 sailors were needed to handle her.

Ascension Day 1729 she made her maiden voyage in the reign of Doge Alvise III Sebastiano Mecenigo.
After the blessing of the ring by the Patriarch of San Elena, the Doge and his invited guest would continue on board the BUCENTAUR past the Lido and the Doge would drop the marriage ring into the Adriatic with the words “Disponsamus te. Mare, in signum veri perpetuique dominii” (We wed thee, Adriatic, as a sign of our true and perpetual dominion.)

1797 The French seized the Republic of Venice, and Napoleon ordered in 1798 that she must be destroyed in humiliation for conquering the city.
The gold was melted down, and the French troops needed 400 mules to carry away the gold.
She burned for three days.
The hull survived and thereafter fitted out as a floating battery, renamed HYDRA, then stationed in the mouth of the Lido port where she served as a coastal battery.
Subsequently she returned to the Arsenal in Venice and used as a prison ship.
1824 She was entirely destroyed.

On Angola 1999 KZr950.000.00 sg?

Source: Wikipedia and other web-sites.
Attachments
Bucentauro.jpg
Bucentaur (Small).jpg
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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: BUCENTAUR on stamp BUCENTAURO

Post by aukepalmhof » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:50 pm

Italy 1949 20L sg 723, scott 512

She is depicted on the 20 Lire stamp issued by Italy in 1949 for the 50th anniversary of the Biennial Art Exhibitions at Vence, but it is a pity that only her stern part is visible and it lacks the colors.

Source: Watercraft Philately 1968 page 1

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