WWII German Ministerial Butter Knife – Reichsadler Engraving
This is an original butter knife from the formal silver service used by high-level ministries of the German Reich during the Second World War. The handle features a deeply engraved Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) clutching a swastika in a wreath, a pattern reserved for official government use and distinct from military mess hall or SS-issue designs.
The blade is made of celluloid, a durable thermoplastic widely used in high-grade European tableware of the 1930s and 1940s. The material shows natural aging and mild coloration typical of well-preserved originals from the era.
This is a rare and authentic example of WWII-era German diplomatic or ministerial silverware. This piece offers collectors, historians, and museums a well-preserved artifact of formal Reich government material culture, fully supported by photographic and catalog documentation.
Documentation & Pattern Classification:
Catalogued in Joseph Yannes’ Collector’s Guide to Third Reich Tableware among official government and diplomatic silver patterns. Yannes also confirms that celluloid blades were used alongside silver and nickel fittings in authentic Reich-issued cutlery.
Consistent with documented examples from high-level Reich ministries including the Reich Chancellery, Foreign Office, and Propaganda Ministry, all of which used engraved silver-plated tableware of this type in formal or ceremonial settings.
Attribution Note:
This butter knife is part of a well-documented pattern of ministerial-level tableware used during the Third Reich. While no specific individual ownership is claimed for this piece, it is consistent with silverware issued for formal use across major Reich government offices and has been published in multiple respected reference volumes.
Specifications:
Handle Material: Silver-finished alloy (likely Alpacca or nickel-silver)
Blade Material: Celluloid (aged, stable)
Length: Approx. 6.75–7.25 inches
Emblem: Reichsadler with swastika in wreath (deeply engraved, not etched or stamped)
Condition: Excellent vintage condition; blade is stable and intact, handle shows light wear and appropriate patina for age.
This is an original butter knife from the formal silver service used by high-level ministries of the German Reich during the Second World War. The handle features a deeply engraved Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) clutching a swastika in a wreath, a pattern reserved for official government use and distinct from military mess hall or SS-issue designs.
The blade is made of celluloid, a durable thermoplastic widely used in high-grade European tableware of the 1930s and 1940s. The material shows natural aging and mild coloration typical of well-preserved originals from the era.
This is a rare and authentic example of WWII-era German diplomatic or ministerial silverware. This piece offers collectors, historians, and museums a well-preserved artifact of formal Reich government material culture, fully supported by photographic and catalog documentation.
Documentation & Pattern Classification:
Catalogued in Joseph Yannes’ Collector’s Guide to Third Reich Tableware among official government and diplomatic silver patterns. Yannes also confirms that celluloid blades were used alongside silver and nickel fittings in authentic Reich-issued cutlery.
Consistent with documented examples from high-level Reich ministries including the Reich Chancellery, Foreign Office, and Propaganda Ministry, all of which used engraved silver-plated tableware of this type in formal or ceremonial settings.
Attribution Note:
This butter knife is part of a well-documented pattern of ministerial-level tableware used during the Third Reich. While no specific individual ownership is claimed for this piece, it is consistent with silverware issued for formal use across major Reich government offices and has been published in multiple respected reference volumes.
Specifications:
Handle Material: Silver-finished alloy (likely Alpacca or nickel-silver)
Blade Material: Celluloid (aged, stable)
Length: Approx. 6.75–7.25 inches
Emblem: Reichsadler with swastika in wreath (deeply engraved, not etched or stamped)
Condition: Excellent vintage condition; blade is stable and intact, handle shows light wear and appropriate patina for age.