Lot 367
"Sonderauftrag Linz" Adolf Hitler – A copper-mounted enamel snuffbox with a portrait of Frederick the Great (Old Fritz, King of Prussia in 1772), late 18th century
Works of Art, Antiquities & Ancient Art | A106kua | Live auction | 604 Lots
Hammer price € 11,000
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Rectangular enamelled box with copper mounting. The sides all enamelled in blue. In the middle of the slightly domed, hinged lid is a portrait bust of Frederick II below a crown, flanked by two antique-style warriors. Surrounded by 12 oval cartouches with the names and dates of battles from the Silesian War. The monogram of Frederick the Great below a crown and two mascarons with rocaille ornaments on the front and back. A crowned eagle on each of the side panels. Inscription on the inside of the lid (tr): "Long live Frederick, The greatest hero of them all, Soon all his enemies will tire, Prussia's eagle will bring us peace." Hairline cracks on the inside. The front edge slightly damaged. Dimensions: 4 x 8 x 6.5 cm. Until 9 April 1942, the snuffbox belonged to Baron András Herzog (1902-1943) of Budapest, whose father, Baron Mor Lipot Herzog (1869-1934), amassed a prestigious art collection. Along with a painting, this snuffbox was acquired by the German Reich from Galerie Sankt Lucas in Vienna as part of the "Sonderauftrag Linz" and assigned the Linz no. "3876". Six months later, Baron A. Herzog was deported to a labour camp, where he died on 16 March 1943. When the German forces withdrew from Hungary at the end of 1944, large parts of the Herzog collection were confiscated and brought to the German Reich. A portion was restituted via Munich Central Collecting Point (CCP) and put into storage in the Alt-Aussee salt mine in Styria. The objects were seized by US soldiers on 2 July 1945 and taken to the CCP in Munich. On 1 December 1948, the American military government transferred them to the custodianship of Bavaria's Minister-President, Hans Ehard. On the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, the snuffbox became federal property. Restitution was carried out by signing the return agreement. The Sonderauftrag Linz was an organisation set up by Adolf Hitler with the task of collecting works of art for the Führermuseum, which was planned in the "Führerstadt Linz" for the period after World War II.Condition: II
Keywords: Alter Fritz, Friedrich der Große, Emaildose, Questions about the lot?
