Object collections

The CGM and the SNCM have given their collections of historic objects which they inherited from the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique™ and the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes™ under contract and irrevocably.

These objects are inalienable except for certain objects.

Inalienable objects

The most remarkable of these objects are classified in the National Heritage by decree of the Ministry for Culture and Communication on the 11^th March 1998.

Amongst the historic collections, there is a museographic collection which groups together a large range of memorabilia which, when gathered together, can be used to evoke a theme, an era or a particular vessel.

Posters

From the end of the 19^th century up to the present day, the most well known illustrators have with incomparable talent portrayed the power of liners, master pieces of the industry and the charm of maritime journeys and far away destinations. French Lines has reunited a large collection of these posters which the Association is constantly building on. Thus, we can discover the whole world, fly over the continents and go back in time by visiting one of a number of exhibitions in which the Association participates.

Silverware

In their hundreds, pieces of silverware were created by the best known silversmiths: Puiforcat, Christofle, Ercuis were for decades the shipping lines chosen suppliers. Reconstitute and restore complete sets are a necessity in order to demonstrate the glitter of life aboard ship to the public.

Pieces of furniture

Evidence from all the different eras, pedestal table, chairs, desks, beds, wardrobes, and bookcases, these items sometimes come out of stock to participate in evocative museographic reconstructions which make countless archived photographic documents possible.

Coins, medals and badges

It is tradition in many domains of activity to celebrate an event with the striking of a medal. This is the case in the Merchant Navy. The launching of a vessel was celebrated by presenting the important guests with a medal in souvenir of the memorable day. The memory of a president will be honoured in the same way. It is also a way of showing gratitude to a vessel and its crew for war and rescue duties.
Many other occasions are also honoured with this kind of ceremony. More commonplace is the sale of medals and badges to passengers during the life of the vessel.
Sont aussi collectionnés Other collectors’ items are Assembly coins and seniority medals.

Models

Whether they are construction models or showcase models they have the same signification for those whom have sailed the oceans or observed the ships leaving port.
The models prepared by amateurs show their affection for a boat, sub-consciously bringing back to mind a period of their life. Cargo, liners, special vessels, roll-on roll-off ships, equipped in the old time with sails or paddles, firstly coal-powered then fuel-powered, each of them represents an important period in the evolution of techniques.

Pictorial works

At one time sailing vessels were decorated with original works of art realised by the best-known artists of the time. In 1912, the vessel named ‘France’ had huge paintings from the 18^thcentury which justified its nickname of the ‘Versailles of the Atlantic’. The head offices of the shipping companies and the port agencies were hung with portraits of vessels and fine prints.

Advertising

A century of creation unfolds for those who spend some time looking through the many advertisements produced by the shipping lines. From everyday objects, whether they be essentials or luxuries, surprisingly commonplace or refined, Prévert could have written an English version of his famous alphabet for a transatlantic advertisement :
Advertising, Bridge, Cargo, Dice, Eastern, Funnel, Guide, History, Iceberg, Journey, Knot, Latitude, Matches, Notebooks, Ocean, Packet-boat, Quay, Report, Shares, Trade, Uniform, Voyage, Wheel, Xerxes, Yacht, Zephyr

Uniforms

Waiter, officer-engineer, baggage handler, sailor, all decided one day to make a career for themselves with the shipping lines and donned these working clothes. A different outfit distinguishes each job. Facing and stripes show the grades, but they are all proud to serve these companies who carry the national flag overseas.

Crockery

On board the larger vessels, often described as the ambassadors of the seas, the art of entertaining is of utmost importance. What can be more attractive than a table sumptuously set and filled with the most extravagant delicacies. Decorated with the company’s acronym, the fine porcelain that was sometimes too fine and therefore short-lived, rubbed shoulders with elegant crystal glasses. How many of these fragile glasses were broken during a squall!

New purchases

Association buys any interesting pieces that complete their present collections.

For more information contact Aymeric PERROY on 02 35 24 19 13

Alienable objects

Sales objectives

Certain goods belonging to the French Lines Association were given to them unconditionally as sole owners by its founders, the Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM) and the Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) in an alienable capacity.
This property may be sold on the sole condition that the profits from this transfer of assets are exclusively reserved for the purpose of enriching the Association historic collections.
The profits from the transfer of assets must be reinvested for the purchase of new items, the renovation of existing artifacts and any other operation that will result in the enrichment of the Association collections. The profits cannot be used to cover the working costs of the Association.
Any transfer of assets must remain exceptional and will result in an annual report on the use of the profits from the transfer of assets.
Transfer of assets take place in the context of general or precise orientations (turnover, quantity and nature of the assets, etc…) which the Board of Directors may need to fix, in particular at the time of the adoption of the annual budget or at the time of the adoption of inventory updates.

Collectors items

These are original items that were commissioned by the shipping lines for their own needs.
They are very precious since they form part of the companies’ history. They are evidence of life aboard ship, the service of companies, the life of a country and an era.
The creation of some of the collectibles sometimes dates back to the origins of the companies. The items were made for example to commemorate the launching of a liner or to celebrate a particular event in history.

Medals

Medal to commemorate the centenary of the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes™	Commemorative medal for the farewell cruise of the liner ‘France™’, in 1974.

Menus

During a cruise, a different menu was planned each day. The tourist class did not have the same menu as the first class travellers; the format was often smaller.

Amongst all these items, there are also advertising articles diffused and distributed both on board ship and on land: ribbons, postcards, leaflets, magazines, records...

Postcards

A whole range of postcards are available, from the black and white photo to the colour photo and including advertising posters from the era and photo albums representing the inside of a liner.

Sales outlets

Some alienable objects are sold :

For the list of items currently for sale, consult the section shop, the products.

Profits from sales

All profits are reinvested by the Association for the purchase of memorabilia or the restoration of inalienable collections belonging to French Lines.

If you possess any collectors items, photos or films which you wish to sell, do not hesitate to call :

Aymeric PERROY , Responsable Scientifique

Phone : 02 35 24 19 13

Fax : 02 35 25 19 37

In the year 1998, French Lines has been able to acquire :

• A model of Ferdinand de Lesseps,
• Around 30 original posters,
• Several gouache sketches,,
• Some pieces of silverware, etc...