Original German WWII SS Allach Porcelain 1940 "Munich Child" 3rd Place Floral Decoration Competition Sculpture by Karl Himmelstoss

Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a lovely example of German WWII Era SS Allach porcelain, pieces designed to match Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler misguided attempts to glorify his version of Germanic history. This piece, like several others, was designed by Karl Himmelstoss, and is known as the Münchner Kindl (Munich Child) to collectors. These were made for a 1940 floral decoration competition in the city, and were presented as prizes to the winners. The first place winners received a 21.4cm tall version that had colored highlights and designs in the glazing around the bottom, while the second place winners received a 21.4cm tall version that did was white with only clear glaze. This is the third place award, which is identical to the second place, except it is only 17cm (6.7in.) tall.

The sculpture shows a child in a flowing robe with a hood, and looks to be holding a flower in their hand. They are standing on top of a 6 sided base, which is adorned on the wider three sides. The front side of the base shows the 1935-1945 Munich coat of arms, which added a Reichsadler over the Monk in front of a city gate. The base is marked on the left rear with BLUMEN=SCHMUCK, with WETT=BEWERB MÜNCHEN 1940 on the right rear, which put together translates to "Floral Decoration Competition Munich 1940".

The sculpture is in excellent condition, and we can see little to no wear or damage. The bottom of the base is marked in the center with an octagon which has an SS-Kulturzeichen proof marking over Allach, indicating that it is an official SS approved item from the Allach factory. This looks like two superimposed "ᛋᛋ" sig / victory runes.

SS Allach porcelain pieces are extremely rare, and this is the first example of the "Munich Child" we have ever had. This great example would be nearly impossible to improve upon. Ready to add to your collection!

NOTE: There is some confusion between two different Allach sculptures, referred to variously as the "Munich Maid", the "Munich Maiden", and the "Munich Child". We have seen this one referred to as all of these, but it is definitely the one that was given out as a prize in 1940. The Münchner Kindl (Munich Child) is the symbol of the city, actually originally a young monk with a book, but it changed towards more modern times. Both sculptures represent this figure, but in different ways.

Porzellan Manufaktur Allach (Allach porcelain manufacture) was produced in Germany between 1935 and 1945. After its first year of operation, the enterprise was run by the SS with forced labor. The emphasis was on decorative ceramics —objets d'art for the NSDAP regime. The company logo included stylized SS runes. Sometimes in place of the company name, the pottery markings mentioned the SS: "DES "ᛋᛋ" - WIRTSCHAFTS - VERWALTUNGSHAUPTAMTES" ('SS Main Economic [and] Administrative Office'). Ceramic artist, master potter and author Edmund de Waal describes the double-lightning insignia of the SS that marked the Allach products as a clever transposition of Germany's famed Meissen porcelain mark of two crossed swords.

History:
Franz Nagy had owned the land since 1925 that the Munich-Allach facility was built on. With his business partner, the porcelain artist Karl Diebitsch, he began the production of porcelain art. The porcelain factory Porzellan Manufaktur Allach was established as a private company in 1935 in the small town of Allach, near Munich, Germany. In 1936, the factory was acquired by the SS. Heinrich Himmler, the leader of the SS who was known for his obsession with Aryan mysticism, saw the acquisition of a porcelain factory for the production of works of art that would be representative, in Himmler's eyes, of Germanic culture. Allach porcelain was one of Himmler's favorite projects and produced various figurines (soldiers, animals, etc.) to compete in the small but profitable German porcelain market.

High-ranking artists were locked into contract. The output of the factory included over 240 ceramic models. As output at the Allach factory increased, the NSDAP moved production to a new facility near Dachau. The use of slave labor was strongly denied by the factory managers at the Nuremberg Trials. Initially intended as a temporary facility, Dachau remained the main location for porcelain manufacture even after the original factory in Allach was modernized and reopened in 1940. The factory in Allach was retrofitted for the production of ceramic products such as household pottery.

Karl Diebitsch, was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen-SS, and Himmler’s personal referent on art. Theodor Kärner was (besides Diebitsch) one of Germany’s most prestigious artists in porcelain. Kärner also worked with Meissen, Rosenthal and Hutschenreuther.