Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very interesting Italian-made tile with a small depiction of Benito Mussolini under a message written to him. At first glance, the tile appears to be pro-Mussolini, but the context of the message makes it clear.

The piece roughly translates to: Dear BENITO you were a Stink But Things Were Going Well. You Kept Your Lover But It Is Established That At Least You Didn't Make Her a Member of Parliament. You Enjoyed Showing Your Fierce Face But You Protected Benedetto Croce, You Threatened Death With Your Signs, But You Saved Pietro Neeni's Life. You Didn't Come to an Agreement With the Enemy But You Saved Togliatti's Life Too. You May Have Been a Sinner But Through You Christ Returns in Honor. You Reduced Our Freedom a Little But With You We Never Saw a Curfew. You Didn't Go to the Bottom with the Landlords But You Dealt the First Blow to the Landowners. Maybe You Kept the Capitalist Happy. But a House and a Farmhouse Arose in the Country, You Posted Too Many Guards, But in the Dark You Could Walk Free and Safe. Too Much Blood Was Spilled But It Was Eternal for the Glory of Italy and Not Brotherly. You died in the face of the sun and in the face of the wind but you did not hide in a convent. You who they say were a stinker and who made Italy a sheep for me more than a stinker you were a fool because of certain filth that is there now if you had removed them from around when you were DUCE now we would see a little light.

With the translation, it’s clear this piece was meant to criticize the life and career of Mussolini, highlighting his failings and hypocrisies. The tile measures 5¼ x 7¼” and retains its hanging hook. The back shows the maker’s logo, BBB in a Triangle, over MADE IN ITALY.

An interesting piece, ready for further research and display.