TO COMMEMORATE THE 9TH OF NOVEMBER 1918

K-218

(Weimarer Waschweiber)

1919, Cast bronze, Satirical medallion, 88.0mm, 173.0g, Edge-punched: “KGoeTz”.

Obverse: A young female, representing the new Republic, with a wreath of immortality in her left hand tries to extinguish the flames on the eagles head with a snuffer she holds in her right  hand. The eagle, representing the House of Hohenzollern, has the head of Kaiser Wilhelm. It also has a broken wing which attempts to hold onto a broken sceptre. Inscription, In exergue with electrical bolts, “Freiheit – Gleicheit – Bruderlichkeit” (Freedom – Equality – Fraternity)

Reverse: At the top, Weimar’s City Theatre, the seat of the German National Assembly.  Below, two washerwomen are laboring over a tub of laundry. Inscription, “Wir Weimarer Waschweiber waschen wochenlang wahnbetört wüster Widersacher widerliche Wäsche, wohlgemut weiter wurstelnd, wie wenn Weltkriegs wildes Wüten wenig wichtig ware.” (We washer-women of Weimar, besotted with folly, are washing week-in and week-out the revolting dirty laundry of vile adversaries, as if the savage raging of the World War were of little importance). Dated 1919. K • G in exergue.

This was Goetz’ entry piece into Kaiser Wilhelm’s satirical series with many more to follow.

This is a flawless example of this medallion and you’d be hard pressed to find another of this caliber. In the protection of our collection since 2004.

Grade: Gussfrisch (As Cast)