Large cast brass original shipbuilder’s plaque from a ship built by VEB Mathias-Thesen-Werft in Wismar, East Germany (DDR), in 1969. Mathias-Thesen-Werft was one of the DDR’s largest shipbuilding yards, constructing cargo ships, fishing vessels, ferries and other commercial ships for both domestic and export markets. Plaques of this type were fitted to vessels or used for shipyard identification and represent an authentic piece of Cold War maritime and industrial history. A substantial, well-cast brass plaque with an attractive aged patina, ideal for collectors of maritime memorabilia or industrial heritage.