desk eagle

[steiner68]

hello,

I would like your opinion on this eagle.

thank you !

regards

[steiner68]

2

[Military]

It looks good to me. Probably from a trophy and was broken off at the base.

Mil

[Thorsten B.]

I am not convinced as of yet - can you post detailed shots of head and claws, please?

[Br. James]

Not a familiar piece to me. The wreath appears to be entirely of laurel leaves, as one sees on the left side of the wreath on a Luftwaffe Pilot/Observer's Badge. Oak leaf wreaths are the usual...

Br. James

[Military]

On second thoughts, the swastika seems to be thicker than I feel it should ideally be? Is it just me?

Mil

[mloppkit]

Hi steiner68,

Here is an original desk eagle of this style made by 'HB' to compare with,

Best Regards,
Michael

[mloppkit]

...

[Br. James]

So what was the symbolism of the laurel leaves intended to express?

Br. James

[Thorsten B.]

Michael,

Thank you for posting your outstanding original - great quality and no doubt the piece that started this thread is a copy.

I remember not too long ago there was another awesome desk eagle (identical piece maybe?) for sale on E-stand and whoever was fast enough to grab it made the deal of his life!

[Waffe]

So what was the symbolism of the laurel leaves intended to express?

Br. James

From Wikipedia:

" in Rome they were symbols of martial victory, crowning a successful commander during his triumph."

[Br. James]

Thanks, Waffe,

I do realize that laurel leaves symbolized military victory and that the Caesars wore them as a cornet...but that was ancient Roman symbolism, and even Il Duce didn't pick up on that symbol for himself. My interest is in what the Third Reich / NSDAP might have been getting at with this piece, given that all of the many other eagle/swaz styles used only oak leaves. As I understand it, the oak leaf within the German historical context indicated strength and victory.

Br. James

[Thorsten B.]

Hmm.. I wouldn´t say that all the Third Reich wreaths do only bear oak leaves really and I bet that we can find reliefs or things like sketches on postcards - especially everything to honour the fallen and memorabilia do show laurel leaves.

Just look at the CB and the GPB - they do not show oak leaves for sure.

[Waffe]

I noticed the use of laurel leaves on the Hindenburg Cross (1933). Seems contrary to the Roman origin, since WWI was not a "victory".

Regards,
Kent G.

[Waffe]

Here are oak and laurel together (Imperial era postcard)



Regards,
Kent G.