‘Historic’ Nazi cutlery is shock success at auction
CUTLERY DESIGNED to commemorate Hitler’s 50th birthday has fetched £12,500 at auction.
The silverware, adorned with Nazi symbolism, was part of a batch of 3,000 pieces designed for the Führer’s milestone birthday in April 1939.
Each of the three forks, three spoons and two knives — which made up part of his formal dining set — were decorated with a swastika, the initials AH and the Nazi eagle.
Nothing is known about the winning bidder, but the items emerged for sale after a house clearance in Dorset, according to Sherbourne-based Charterhouse Auctioneers.
Richard Bromell, one of the auctioneers, said: “The cutlery was found at the estate of a deceased retired senior military officer.
“It was kept in a draw in his study, not on display, and the cutlery appears to have been used very rarely, if at all.
“He was stationed in Germany in the post-war years so he could have brought the cutlery back then — but The cutlery features Hitler’s initials
unfortunately we don’t know that for certain.”
The Nazi memorabilia, produced by German silversmiths Bruckmann & Sohne and which the auctioneers described as “a big part” of history, was expected to sell for up to £2,300 but went for more than five times that amount last Friday.
Selling Nazi memorabilia is not illegal, however MPs have previously called for a ban.