SOLD 3/14

K-132

THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR RECEIVES THE SERBIAN ASSASSINS
(Serajewo, Der Funke des Weltbrandes)

1914 Cast Bronze, 58.0mm, Wt. 54.60g, Frankenhuis 1412

Obverse:  An armed assassin with pistol in belt and a bomb behind his back, marches left past the Sarajevo city marker. Along the rim of the medal is written; DER FUNKE DES WELTBRANDES 28 JUNI, 1914. (The spark of the world fire, June 28, 1914).

Reverse:  A group of men in the center surrounded by rim text reading; DER-RUSS-GESANDT VON-HARTWIG EMPFANGT-SERB -MÖRDER  (The Russian Ambassador von Hartwig receives Serbian Murderers).  K-G in exergue.

One of Goetz' design vehicles is to show people of eastern European descent as almost sub-human entities with exaggerated head and body features like brawny, thick shoulders; large, clumsy hands; flat and angular heads with big ears, noses, etc.. By using these crude characterizations he successfully plays to the viewers visceral emotions that this is a dark and untrustworthy ethnic group.

Grade: VZ (XF)

 SOLD 3/14