Nuremburg Desk Eagles...

[TxGauleiter]

I see them both with and without RZM numbers..

I am not sure why the RZM would need to authorize/oversee their production, and thus I have always assumed RZM marked examples were a fakers way of overselling and falsely legitimizing bogus pieces, which has caused me to shy away from them...

Am I wrong? Thoughts?

perhaps a few examples of each, with & without RZM markings might help shed some light, along with others learned speculation....

let the discussion commence

[mloppkit]

Hello TXGauleiter,
OK, I will get the ball rolling with this Non-RZM marked Nuremburg desk eagle that has been posted before,

Best Regards,
Michael

[jerry c.]

thats a beauty. lookin forward to learning more about these.

[Br. James]

I tend to agree with TxGauleiter in that I have always been suspicious of RZM-marked examples of the Nuremberg Desk Eagle. Offhand I can't recall one that sported the RZM logo that didn't have one or more red flags somewhere on the piece, or that the finished piece was so "soft" and indistinct that it looked like a remold of a remold.

My own example carries the impression “B 41" to the reverse of the base, which I suppose could be a foundry mark of some kind. I bought this piece from another collector about twelve years ago and he believed the marking represented "Baujahr 1941" — meaning “constructed or built in 1941” -- but I have not seen any further corroboration to that in the ensuing years, nor has it been refuted in my experience.

As always, I am reluctant to mention pieces from my own collections since I am unable to provide photos due to my lack of equipment and the knowledge of how to get pix onto the screen. Apologies...

Br. James

[mloppkit]

Here is Kris Lindbloms' newly aquired Nuremberg eagle, also not RZM marked, it is the type with the cast in swaz as opposed the the other eagle with a separately attached one, Photos courtesy of Kris Lindblom and I will let his description tell the story,

'These Nuremberg eagles are really the cats meow, and the problem is that it is very difficult to find one like this. This was sent to me by the son of a veteran who bought the piece back from Berlin and even on my Black Berry I knew this was a nice bird.
This is a white metal piece but retains its original silver wash finish and has never been cleaned giving it that black and inconsistent look that a 70 year old piece should have and that I just cannot find anywhere. It sits on its original base with its original dedication plaque from 1938 and dated 20.4.1938, Hitler's birthday which is not uncommon to see on dedications like this.
The dedication translates to: For Faithful Cooperation/Assistance N.S.D.A.P from Ortsgruppe Dankersen which would be Kreis Minden and from Gau-Westfalen-Nord.
The Nuremberg Adler was designed by Kurt Ehmen and a personally approved design by Adolf Hitler, they were done in huge reliefs for Nuremberg at 7 meters tall!. It is one of the most recognizable symbols that I can think of for the era. They were of course blown up by the allied forces at the end of the war but one can only imagine the presence that these had within the context of the Reich and the time' - Kris Lindblom

[Vid]

I think they come both way's really, quality can vary as well, making them difficult. I just put that bird in my gallery last night and its a keeper. There are things to look for on these and the flags can vary as well.

I think Horst has one that might be RZM marked and its a one looker.

Kris

[shaneos3]

They are both excellent "text-book" examples of the non-RZM marked white metal Nuremberg Desk Eagle. Love that patina and great detail. Congratulations Kris- a great Adler with the added bonus of it's original dedication plaque. I think that always makes them a little bit more special & unique,

Cheers,
Shane

[USCollect]

Hi, any thoughts?

Thanks guys!

[USCollect]

any opinions on this one?

Thanks!

[mloppkit]

Hello USCollect,
Can you Please provide us with some more deatails & can you post photos of under the base and tell us what it seems to be made of, Is it plated zink? Aluminium? brass etc, How heavy is it and how wide and high etc,
Best Regards,
Michael

[USCollect]

Thanks Mike. It appears to be a zinc hollow casting and is 13 inches overall with the eagle being about 5.5 inches. The weight is around 5 pounds and the base is 3.5 by 6.25 inches. I attach a photo of what appears to be the maker.

[peterm]

For me a fine original. I have a similar one that was given to one of Upper Austrias best giant slalom sportsman in the years before the beginning of the war. It has a plate attached above the words "Ein Volk" for the winner of giant slalom, given by the Kreisleiter.

Kind regards, Peter

[USCollect]

Thanks Peter!

[mloppkit]

Hi Uscollect,

Thanks for the extra info, Congratulations on finding such a great piece, nice and heavy as well as the makers label. Exceptional and rare original example.
Thanks for sharing it with us,

Best Regards,
Michael

[Larry Lipps]

For the sake of reference down the road, I'll post the reverse of my smooth back eagle. Although the vet snapped it in half in his duffle bag, thus the hole below the wreath, it is not marked.