Large, heavy, Round Serving Tray from the New Reich Chancellery
A quite Superb Large round serving tray, made from German heavy silver plate over copper, produced by Wellner for the Neue Reichskanzlei.
The tray is perfectly round, with a step down form, having a flat top/outer rim, and then an inclined slope leading down to the tray bowl. The base is of heavy thick copper, which dictates that this tray would have been warmed to serve food straight from the kitchens.
The tray features a spectacular and finely detailed Reichskanzlei Eagle with wreathed Swastika straddled by the letters R and K to the lower edge of the upper slope. To the reverse is found the stamped ‘Wellner’ makers mark, followed by a small stamping ’67’ indicating the silver content, and then the impressed number ‘156494’ indicating the tray’s inventory designation.
In late January 1938, Adolf Hitler officially assigned his favourite architect, Albert Speer, to build the New Reich Chancellery around the corner on Voßstraße, a western branch-off of Wilhelmstraße, requesting that the building be completed within a year. Hitler commented that Bismarck’s Old Chancellery was “fit for a soap company” and not suitable as headquarters of a Greater German Reich. Speer was given a blank cheque as Hitler stated that the cost of the project was immaterial.
The Tray would have been used at most if not every event which high echelon, foreign dignataries, Third Reich officials, other VIP’s, and of course Hitler himself, attended.
Without doubt this is another one of those ‘If it could talk’ pieces!
Condition:
The tray displays surface marks and scratches, and a few small ‘dings’ but in overall superb condition, and an absolutely beautiful display piece. Incredibly rare serving tray from Hitler’s Neue Reichskanzlei. Excellent investment potential.
