Cast-Iron German Federal Eagle Wall Plaque, Post-1945

This is a heavy cast-iron wall plaque featuring the modern Bundesadler, the Federal German eagle adopted for use by the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) after 1945. The piece is cast in solid iron with sharply raised relief, showing the stylized black eagle with spread wings, red talons, and red tongue set against a textured gold field. The shield border and eagle are finished in matte black paint, while the background is a muted metallic gold, all consistent with mid-20th-century decorative production. The plaque includes a small integrated suspension loop at the top, cast as part of the body. The reverse shows a recessed field with a central cast-in mounting boss, the rough casting texture, and no maker marks, all typical of utilitarian iron foundry work.

Historically, the design is not Imperial. The eagle’s shape—with its simplified wings, narrow body, and modern heraldic proportions—corresponds to the post-war federal coat of arms introduced by West Germany beginning in 1950. These plaques were commonly displayed in government offices, embassies, consulates, Bundeswehr installations, police buildings, and occasionally in private homes as patriotic décor during the 1950s–1970s. Cast-iron versions were durable, economical to produce, and often finished with hand-applied paints to replicate official colors. While not a military award, these items remain part of Germany’s national iconography and are collected today as mid-century civic heraldry.

Collector appeal lies in the plaque’s bold relief, intact period paint, and the fact that cast-iron examples survive in far lower numbers than sheet-metal and printed versions. Its substantial weight, crisp casting, and deep relief make it a strong display item. The reverse shows oxidation and expected surface irregularities from age and foundry production, but the front retains excellent paint with only minor flecking along the borders. The suspension loop is original and secure. No cracks or casting repairs are visible.

Measures 5 inches by 4 inches