HARDWOOD CUP OR DIPPER

The rebuilding of Germany and its economy under the crushing terms of the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I, brought with it a sense of unity and nationalism. Unification was less than 50 year old and Germans referred to themselves by their individual racial heritage, a practice still popular in places, such as the Swabian south. The need for common ancestors, (and if they be created, why not a super race) manifested itself in many ways. A particularly curious one was the creation, in the early 1930s, by the Modellwerkstatt des Reichsbundes fuer Deutsche (Model workshop of the realm Federation for Germans) of model artifacts of imagined Neolithic ancestors. Weapons, tools, vessels and machine like devices were created with near Flintstone imagination. Characteristic German quality standards were used to recreate the stick and log components as well as the ceramics, blades and bits. Undoubtedly used as a traveling exhibition, their ingenuity would make any German proud of his heritage. After World War II, financial rebuilding was again needed and the creators of the collection, unpopular. The collection was liquidated and all or part acquired by the Detroit Institute of Arts where it evidently laid in storage. In 2000 it was deaccessioned, identified as from the German Prehistoric Society and we purchased all but a few household items. The following are from that collection. To our knowledge, each is the only example of its type. Each bears Detroit Institute of Arts collection numbers (except for the spears and fishing rod which were numbered with tags, now removed) and is in excellent antique condition with fine age character. Each represents an extraordinary piece in the puzzle of the rise from devastation to world dominance in just two decades, the extraordinary will of the German people, and power of the Nazi government. Each is accompanied by certification of authenticity and provenance. 8 3/4" length with deep oval section bowl. Very well carved.