Bronze plaque, commemorative of the railway centenary celebrations at Darlington, 1925

Bronze plaque, commemorating the railway centenary celebrations at Darlington in 1925, designed by Italo Amerigo Passani of Carrara, Italy (1882-1963), 'presented to the British Nation by the Italian Railwaymen'. Cast in solid bronze, features two relief figures representing Italian railwaymen, one a shunter with shunter's horn, and the other a permanent way worker with hammer, supporting a medallion bas relief of George Stephenson. Paid for by subscriptions raised by varying ranks of Italian railway employees, organised by the Honorary Committee under the Presidency of the Italian Minister for Communications, Costanzo Ciano. Displayed at the Railway Pavilion, Wembley, 1925, and then loaned to the Science Museum for display, 1925-1972. Dimensions c. 2200mm x 3200mm, weight c. 0.75 tonnes.