circa 1935. Large silver fruit bowl

Silver, the side walls slightly opening upward, on 3 flat feet. On the front side the applied large shields with the coat of arms of Göring and Emmy Sonnemann, below an applied bandeau with enameled shield of the "KDDK" and the engraved wedding date "zum 10. April 1935". Height 11 cm, diameter approximately 27 cm, weight 980 g. Only slight traces of age with beautiful patina, condition 2.
Very fine presentation gift from the Kameradschaft der deutschen Künstler, founded in 1934, which emerged from the Bund der NS-Bühnen- und Filmkünstler and in which all renowned artists from film, theater, art and music were members.

Emmy Göring (born March 24, 1893 in Hamburg; died June 8, 1973 in Munich, née Emma Johanna Henny Sonnemann) grew up as the daughter of a wealthy factory owner couple and enjoyed training as an actress under Leopold Jessner in Hamburg. From 1910 on, engagements followed in Hamburg, Munich, Wien, Stuttgart and Weimar.

In 1932 she made the acquaintance of Hermann Göring, who had been widowed in 1931. In his function as Prussian Minister President, he conferred upon her in autumn 1934 the title of Prussian State Actress and secured her an engagement at the Preußisches Staatstheater Berlin. As Minna von Barnhelm she took her leave from the Berliner Staatstheater in 1935.
With great pomp the wedding of Hermann and Emmy Göring was celebrated on April 10, 1935. Emmy Göring functioned, because Adolf Hitler was unmarried, as “First Lady” of the German Reich, often in competition with Magda Goebbels.

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Hermann and Emmy Göring: Large Silver Wedding Gift from the Kameradschaft der deutschen Künstler 1935

This silver fruit bowl represents a remarkable testament to the cultural-political staging in National Socialist Germany. As a wedding gift from the Kameradschaft der Deutschen Künstler (KDDK) to Hermann and Emmy Göring on the occasion of their marriage on 10 April 1935, the object documents the close entanglement between state, party, and cultural figures in the Third Reich.

The Kameradschaft der Deutschen Künstler was founded in 1934 with headquarters at Viktoriastraße 3-4 in Berlin. It emerged from the Bund nationalsozialistischer Bühnen- und Filmkünstler (Union of National Socialist Stage and Movie Artists) founded in 1932 by Benno von Arent. Benno von Arent also served as founder and leader of the KDDK. The organization united primarily performing artists, musicians, and filmmakers. According to the Handbook of the Reichskulturkammer 1937, the organization aimed to “unite all artistically creative people based on the principle of achievement into a comradely community, whose defining foundation is the National Socialist worldview.” The KDDK organized fellowship evenings called Kameradschaftsabende and published a journal titled Blätter der Kameradschaft der Deutschen Künstler. Functionaries of the organization included actor Theodor Loos, film dramaturge Ewald von Demandowsky, musicologist Peter Raabe, and pianist Wilhelm Backhaus. All prominent artists from film, theater, art, and music were members of this organization.

The wedding between Hermann Göring and Emmy Sonnemann (née Emma Johanna Henny Sonnemann, born 24 March 1893 in Hamburg, died 8 June 1973 in Munich) on 10 April 1935 was one of the Third Reich's biggest propaganda events. The festivities included a civil ceremony with best man Adolf Hitler signing the certificate, a church ceremony at the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), a parade and military review, and a reception and dinner at the Kaiserhof Hotel. Hermann Göring, who had been widowed in 1931, had met Emmy Sonnemann in 1932. In his function as Prussian Minister President, he conferred upon her the title of Prussian State Actress in autumn 1934 and secured her an engagement at the Prussian State Theater Berlin.

Emmy Göring served as Adolf Hitler's hostess at many state functions and thereby staked a claim to the title of “First Lady of the Third Reich,” a title also sometimes conferred upon Magda Goebbels. Hermann Göring was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi regime and commander of the Luftwaffe.

The silver bowl was presented as a wedding gift on behalf of the organization's membership. The 980-gram object measures 11 centimeters in height with a diameter of approximately 27 centimeters. The bowl's form opens slightly upward and rests on three flat feet. On the front side are applied large shields with the coats of arms of Hermann Göring and Emmy Sonnemann. Below these is an applied bandeau with an enameled shield of the KDDK and the engraved wedding date “zum 10. April 1935”.

This presentation gift illustrates the systematic integration of cultural figures into the National Socialist power architecture. The KDDK served as an instrument for the ideological alignment and comradely binding of artists to the regime. The lavish wedding and the gifts from organizations such as the KDDK underscored Hermann Göring's central position in the NS hierarchy and the propagandistic staging of private events as state affairs.