Lot 3305
We start this narrative with a statement that should go at the end, and that is: “What could be more important than this magnificent and prodigiously important relic of the Third Reich?” Here is the unique (and we use the term “unique” for its intended definition—“One of a Kind”) Wandteppich (tapestry) that once hung in the headquarters of the Supreme Command of the German Armed Forces. The OKW or Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was the organization that was responsible for all preparations for national defense in time of peace and for the conduct of operations in time of war. The head of the OKW was a cabinet member and represented the joint interest of the three branches: army, navy, and air force with respect to other departments of the government. The OKW was supreme and fully responsible for the coordination of the active war effort by the three subordinate branches, while the OK der Heeres (army) is responsible for all army matters, just as each of the other two high commands—air force and navy—were responsible for the application of general policies within each one's own sphere. In wartime, each high command had a forward echelon and a rear echelon. The forward echelon moves to a location appropriate to the theatre of main operations, while the rear echelon remains in the Berlin area; actually the building was Wündsdorf near Zossen in the outskirts of Berlin. Although it was not as grand as Göring’s air-ministry building on the Wilhelmstrasse it still was a classic example of Third Reich architecture. A branch of the OKW was on the Bendlerstrasse; The fantastic tapestry was either from this HQ or the one in Wündsdorf-Zossen. Many of the very important Third Reich buildings had handmade tapestries within but the total amount couldn’t be over a dozen. The importance of tapestries to the National Socialist mythos cannot be underestimated. So, with tradition being so prodigiously important to the N.S. artistic sense and because of the intellectual state of mind that prevailed, the display of tapestries became extremely aesthetically important to Hitler’s Reich. The tapestry was probably designed by Karl Diebitsch who designed the black SS uniform. He also designed a whole series of tapestries for the SS and other N.S. groups. This fabulous tapestry may well be one designed by this brilliant artist. Professor Diebitsch designed them and they were constructed by his sister, Elsie Seifert, both in completely woven design or applique, or both. The OKW Tapestry This beautiful tapestry bears the stylized Wehrmacht eagle separately sewn on. The eagle looks to its left and clutches an oak-leaf wreath with four Teutonic swords crossing each other behind the wreath. The eagle’s limbs and talons are accented, as is the swastika with gold-bullion cloth that gives it a rather three-dimensional effect. The uppermost portion displays a curved bandeau while the underside has a decorative oak-leaf braid and numerous applied rosettes. Both sides have pressure marks from a frame that had contained it (when?) The wall hanging lay for decades in a small Russian museum outside Moscow and recently it was bought .This may be the most important tapestry of Third Reich origin ever offered. It is a big 16 x 8 feet (192 x 96 inches or 490 x 245 cm). This might be one of the most significant works of art and most historically important Third Reich item ever offered.
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