Hitler Bust by TH LINZ

[DerFunker]

Hi friends, I'd like to show off my newly acquired Adolf Hitler bust by Th. (Theodor) Linz - I'm very pleased to have finally found myself one of these for the collection! This is a roughly 2/3 of lifesize bust of der Führer und Reichskanzler, mounted on a marble base. This was likely a wartime manufactured bust due to being cast in zinc or similar metal and then bronzed. It's in excellent condition with some typical scuffs on the high areas, and like all of the Linz sculpted busts I've seen, is a good likeness of AH, and really quite heavy.

I found a nice scan of a page (image below) advertising this bust. The ad goes on to read that this Monumentalbüste of unser Führer can (or perhaps "should") be seen in the "Ehrenhalle", in every meeting room, every school, every home, apartment, collection, etc.. An ominous and interesting ad.

Some information I found about the sculptor: Professor Theodor Linz was born on February 9, 1886 (died July 24, 1979 in Munich), and was the son of Nikolaus Linz, a metalworker and merchant from Fürth, and his wife Pauline, née Seifert. After leaving school, he first began his studies at the Royal School of Arts and Crafts in Nuremberg. From November 1908 he took the sculpture course taught by Professor Balthasar Schmitt (1858 - 1942) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. His brother Peter Linz studied painting. With the beginning of World War I, Theodor Linz was drafted into the 12th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment in Neu-Ulm in October 1914 and then volunteered for the 1st Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment in Munich. As early as March 1915, however, he was discharged from military service as unfit. In 1917 he received the Rome Prize. During the National Socialist era, Theodor Linz exhibited at the Great German Art Exhibition in Munich from 1939 to 1943. Furthermore, he made commissioned works such as busts, shields, etc. for the National Socialists. Sources also say that he was an SA man and early NSDAP party supporter.

I've placed him on the bottom shelf of my glass cabinet due to weight, just in front of two table pennants - makes for a nice display.

Thanks for having a look!

-DF

[Aldo]

Wow, an impressive piece! Congratulations.

[DerFunker]

Wow, an impressive piece! Congratulations.

Thanks, Aldo! I'm very pleased with it. After selling off my entire combat-related collection, I've promised myself to keep the remaining collection small and manageable, but quality. Let's see if that philosophy lasts.

Thanks!

-DF

[Aldo]

Good luck, I understand your strategy. I've been selling off all my peripheral items to concentrate on SS caps only. The idea of a small manageable quality collection is my ultimate goal too. Keep up the good work.

[MAP]

Looks like a great example

Congratulations

[Horst]

Great addition to your collection a real centerpiece.
Horst

[DerFunker]

Looks like a great example

Congratulations

Great addition to your collection a real centerpiece.
Horst

Thanks, gents! This one has its cosmetic blemishes here and there, but overall is very nice. An AH bust that's largely intact isn't always an easy thing to find - I've seen so many that look like they were intentionally de-faced (pun intended), and probably were. Rifle practice also seems to have been a popular end-of-war pastime for many, as I've seen a share of busts with bullet holes. Glad this one was spared!

[Nmilitaria]

Nice!