A TERRACOTTA HEAD OF A WOMAN, AFTER THE ANTIQUE, EARLY 20TH CENTURY | A Terracotta Head of a Woman, after the Antique

her hair swept up and back from the forehead, and surmounted by a twisted diadem.

acquired as ancient for Adolf Hitler’s unrealised Führermuseum in Linz, Austria (no. 1286), prior to World War II, according to Robert Oertel’s recollection (NARA, property card VI); photograph requested for Hitler’s birthday book (Album XX) in a letter dated March 16th, 1942 (NARA, Ardelia Hall Collection); labeled as “copy” on 1941 photograph; discovered by Allied forces in salt mines in Altaussee, Austria (no. 7171) in 1945; transferred from Altaussee to Munich Central Collecting Point, Germany (no. 12273) on October 25th, 1945; transferred from Munich to Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point on June 29th, 1949; returned to Munich Central Collecting Point on July 11th, 1951; transferred to Salzburg, Austria, on January 22nd, 1952; no. 814 (“Antiker Frauenkopf mit Diadem”) awarded to the present owner by the District Court for Civil Law, Vienna, on January 20th, 1992

RECORDED
Munich Central Collecting Point Database: https://www.dhm.de/datenbank/ccp/dhm_ccp.php?seite=6&fld_1=&fld_3=1286&fld_4=&fld_5=&fld_6=&fld_6a=&fld_7=&fld_8=&fld_9=&fld_10=&fld_11=&fld_12_a=&fld_12_b=&fld_12a=&fld_13=&suchen=Search
PUBLISHED
"Liste mit einer Beschreibung des im Gewahrsam des Bundesdenkmalamtes befindlichen und in der Anlage zum Bundesgesetzt vom 27. Juni 1969 (BGBI. Nr. 294 vom 14. August 1969) zahlenmässig angeführten Kunst- und Kulturgutes, gemäss 1 Abs. 2 dieses Bundesgesetzes," Amstblatt zur Wiener Zeitung, September 2, 1969, p. 22, no. 849 (“Antiker Frauenkopf mit Diadem”)
“Liste mit einer Kunstbeschreibung des im Gewahrsam des Bundesdenkmalamtes, öffentlicher Sammlungen und sonstiger Dienststellen befindlich und in der Anlage zum Bundesgesetz vom 13. December 1985, BGBI. Nr. 2/1986, zahlenmässig  angeführten Kunst- und Kulturgutes, gemäss 1 Abs. 2 dieses Bundesgesetzes,” Amstblatt zur Wiener Zeitung, February 1, 1986, p. 37, no. 814 (“Antiker Frauenkopf mit Diadem”)
Günter Haase, Die Kunstsammlung Adolf Hitler. Eine Dokumentation, Berlin, 2002, p. 29, Linz-No. 1286

As shown. Remains of material resembling encrustation on the interior and exterior. Some white pigment preserved on diadem. Circular vent hole on the back of head. Two small TL test holes, one in back of proper left ear, the other on underside of flange. TL test shows that both samples are less than 150 years old.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present head is modelled after the head of an ancient Roman statue, the so-called Flora Capitolina (http://capitolini.info/scu00743/?lang=en), with the addition of a diadem. For another head (on a bust) from the same workshop, documented on the art market in Rome in 1935, see http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilderbestand/1060043. The Führer had been deceived with a forgery. Several antiquities once slated for Adolf Hitler’s Führermuseum were awarded by the Viennese court to the present owner of this head and later sold at auction, including a Roman marble head of the Resting Satyr by Praxiteles, (Sotheby’s, London, July 9-10th, 1992, lot 370, then Christie’s, New York, December 5th, 2012, lot 78, now in a US private collection), an over life-size marble head of a veiled woman or goddess (Sotheby’s, London, May 21st, 1992, lot 233, now in a US private collection), and a Roman bronze figure of Aphrodite (Sotheby’s, London, July 9-10th, 1992, lot 371, current whereabouts unknown).