Description:

SCULPTURE "MAN WITH HORSE" FROM HITLER'S BERCHTESGADEN LIBRARY
A fine relic from Adolf Hitler's mountaintop retreat at Berchtesgaden, a cast steel figurine of a naked Greek warrior training a rearing horse, found in the ruins of the Hitler's library by an American soldier. The statue measures 5" x 1 1/4" at the base and stands 4" tall, is well-cast, and bears the maker's engraving on bottom: "A. F. Lehmann Berlin". The sculpture is accompanied by a copy of a February, 1971 letter of provenance on the letterhead of Edward P. Rich & Co. of Haverford, Pa. signed by Capt. Bobbie E. Brown who served with the 18th Infantry and was awarded the Medal of Honor. In his letter, Brown describes the statue: "...that I took from the ruins of Adolf Hitler's estate...late in May 1945. I found nearby a small statue of Napoleon, also in cast steel...I have been told by Dr. Rich that this is a miniature copy of a life-size bronze statue that stood in Hitler's Reich Chancellery in Berlin...illustrated in many Nazi art magazines during Hitler's time...". With transmittal envelope. Also present is a letter from the owner of the firm, Dr. Edward Rich, written to the purchaser of this statue, noted collector Firmin F. Michel, Nov. 12, 1971. Rich sends an obituary concerning the death of Captain Brown: "...keep this clipping with the documentation for the little horse statuette. I just came back from delivering Hitler's tunic and painting to the Doctor [likely fellow collector Dr. John Lattimer]...". It should be noted that Dr. Rich later became a distinguished researcher and librarian at West Point and is pictured in their yearbooks. The statue bears some scattered oxidation, and the bottom of one of the horse's legs is cracked, otherwise very good condition in a maroon custom fitted case with gilt lettering.

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May 8, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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