Lot 435

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Description:

FOLK ART THIRD REICH TAPESTRY
Very large hand-stitched folk-art style tapestry, 8' x 4', cotton construction of many different parts, with some areas hand-painted and/or stenciled, all apparently built on the reverse of a pre-1918 national flag. The images depict the rise to power of the NSDAP and the society it envisioned for Germany. The imagery is separated into seven panels, arranged vertically, each of which depicts a different aspect of the Nazi takeover. The top panel is a panorama of the city of Munich, where the movement began, decorated with the crests of the city. The second panel depicts the "Volksgemeinschaft" ("people's community"), the ideal unification of different social and economic classes, while the third panel, depicts these classes reaping the social benefits of National Socialism. The fourth panel shows the struggle of the people to return the nation to its former glory. The fifth panel shows the uniformed social organizations of the NSDAP, including the Hitler Youth, the SS, the SA, and the German Labor Front. Below this are three golden swastikas, surrounded by golden wreaths. This acts as a divider between the scenes of prosperity and unity above, and the violence and hardship depicted below. The sixth full panel depicts the burning of the Reichstag, the effects of the Great Depression, and violence and persecution committed by Communists and other anti-Nazi forces. The final panel depicts battles between Communists and anti-Communist "freikorps" mercenaries. Surrounding these images are the words: "Mogen die Deutschen nie vergessen was den Freiheitskampf notwendig gemacht und wodurch sie gesiegt haben" ("May the German people never forget what made the war of liberation necessary and yet they have triumphed"). The outer border is decorated with a repeating pattern of red swastikas, framed by black and red tassels. There are seven loops along the top edge, from which the tapestry was once suspended, probably on a wall. Overall, a surprisingly organic and human propaganda image. Very good.

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December 8, 2015 10:30 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000