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Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa needle case
Needle Case

Leaning Tower of Pisa needle case
Design Representation

Design Details

Needle Case Type:

Figural

Patent/Registered to:

W. Avery & Son – Redditch

Patent/Design Representation #:

Ornamental Class 1: Metal: #337524

Patent/Design Registration Date:

July 26, 1879

Location of Patent/Design Registration:

The National Archives (TNA) - Kew, UK

Reference #:

TNA Representation - BT 43/45/337524
TNA Register - BT 44/4/337524

Dimensions:

3 &15/16 inch height by 2 inch base diameter

Material:

Brass

Name Variations:

Mappin Bros - 67 & 68 King Wiliam St London Bridge

Other Variations:

Unknown

Additional Photographs

Bottom and bottom detail with the Mappin name

Facts

The Leaning Tower, or Torre Pendente in Italian, is the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral in Pisa, Italy.  It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Italy due to the tower's noticeable 3.99 degree tilt to one side.  In the 1990’s the tower was straightened to its 1838 position and strengthen so it will tilt no further.  Many tourists ascend the tower's internal spiral staircase with 296 steps to reach the top for wonderful views of the city and region.

facts

History

Construction of the eight-story tower began in 1173 and it took 199 years to complete partially due to the weakness of the surrounding soil and miscalculations when building the foundation.  In addition, during these early years, the city of Pisa was constantly at war with other northern Italian cites which depleted their manpower and financial resources.   During the 17th and 18th centuries, the tower was a popular destination for upper-class Englishmen on the Grand Tour of Europe.  Later, in Victorian times it was visited even more often by both men and women of the emerging middle class.

history

Miscellaneous

Usually only residents of the area know about the Leaning Tower of Niles, Illinois, located in a northern suburb of Chicago.  This half scale replica of Pisa’s tower was built in 1934 by a local industrialist to hide the water filtration tanks for a recreational park he created for his employees.  One often sees the Leaning Tower of Niles when flying over the area on the way to O’Hare International Airport.

location