My uncle gave me an item he picked up in a Los Angles antique shop. The story was it came off a post-war building in Berlin that was being torn down. It is a heavy cast bronze plaque that was an exterior decoration. It is 18 inches high and 11 inches wide. I any of you have any ideas or first hand information it will be appreciated.
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finally got the photo up.

The Eagle is a German symbol for sure but this doesn’t look Germanic in style to me.

Looks more American to be honest.

I agree. The eagle, plus the 5 pointed star, would seem to be more of an American symbol.

I suspect the stylized "D" on the eagle's breast might be the key to IDing it.

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I suspect the stylized "D" on the eagle's breast might be the key to IDing it.

That symbol is "4D" entwined.

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Originally posted by Udo:

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I suspect the stylized "D" on the eagle's breast might be the key to IDing it.

That symbol is "4D" entwined.

Thanks. I wasn't sure if the "4" was intentional or just an unintentional resemblance.

Yes, there is a “4” intertwined with the “D.” Searching for “4D Germany” brought this up:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Ds

It seems that the “Four Ds” was an allied occupation program after the war to “fix” Germany: demilitarisation, denazification, decentralisation, and democratization. It had been agreed to by the allies at the Potsdam conference. I wonder if the plaque could have been the symbol of an allied organization responsible for overseeing the program. The 4D would fit as would the more American or other symbolism.

Added: My curiosity piqued, I tried a Google image search with no similar images found.
I can say that many US military organizations have developed emblems/insignia for specialized organizations that were then produced locally. The size and quality of the one pictured would have made it an expensive undertaking, but not impossible.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sigfreund,

Denazification. That’s not a word you see every day.

It’s very Art Deco looking to me, like something that would have been put on the Empire State Building in the 1930’s or 1940’s.

This is a Coat of arms for someone or some where. Interesting as it has a shield and, where most eagles have arrows or a weapon, sword in their talons, this seems to have arrow fletches behind the star. I honestly cannot locate this symbol. BTW, one of its talons is broken off.

Looks like the symbol on the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburg branch. There are some minor differences though.

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Originally posted by ltz400:
Looks like the symbol on the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburg branch.

It sure does... Same 4D symbol. ("4D" for the Federal Reserve's 4th District.)

So this bronze eagle plaque is likely a decoration taken from a Federal Reserve building in/around Ohio that was torn down or remodeled.

Wow! There sure is a family resemblance between these two. The only problem encountered so far is that sources indicate that the building was completed in 1923 and no indication the exterior has been modified. But there is a chance this plaque was an interior decoration.

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Originally posted by ltz400:
Looks like the symbol on the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburg branch.

That seems pretty conclusive. I cannot imagine that the two are so similar by unrelated coincidence.

The sculptors name is Henry Hering. There is a lot of info on the net about him and his work. The 4D symbol seems to stand for the Fourth District of the Federal Reserve system. The same symbol is seen on another sculpture above the door to the employees entrance on the Cleveland building. I agree this is most likely an interior decoration or a copy. Artists always put their mark on their work, look for his mark.

It reminds me of some background artwork from old black and white movies. Like “The Great Dictator”or “Maltese Falcon”.

The design is Art Deco from the early twenties.
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Originally posted by Udo:
...picked up in a Los Angles antique shop.

Reason enough to ignore the story. lol

"Buy the gun, not the story." But it applies to most anything.

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Originally posted by cas:

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Originally posted by Udo:
...picked up in a Los Angles antique shop.

Reason enough to ignore the story. lol

"Buy the gun, not the story." But it applies to most anything.

At least they didn't tell him it was off Hitlers house. .

Its still cool looking. And now you don't have to worry about Nazis coming after you.