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| Hitler's desk 'may sell for $1m' | Hitler's desk 'may sell for $1m' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A desk and chair from Adolf Hitler's 1930s luxury apartment in Munich could be sold for over $1m (£500,000), says a British dealer overseeing the sale. | |
| The oak pieces were acquired by an anonymous US collector after being sold by the US government, according to the London-based dealer Minas Katchadorian. | The oak pieces were acquired by an anonymous US collector after being sold by the US government, according to the London-based dealer Minas Katchadorian. |
| They were in Hitler's apartment when he signed the joint declaration, ahead of WWII, with Neville Chamberlain in 1938. | They were in Hitler's apartment when he signed the joint declaration, ahead of WWII, with Neville Chamberlain in 1938. |
| The furniture, already attracting interest, will be sold off privately. | The furniture, already attracting interest, will be sold off privately. |
| The pieces are expected to achieve a figure in excess of £1m US dollars British dealer Minas Katchadorian | |
| Mr Katchadorian, who also operates from West Sussex, said: "It is a fine quality, understated bourgeois piece of German furniture of that period, which has been in obscurity for decades. | Mr Katchadorian, who also operates from West Sussex, said: "It is a fine quality, understated bourgeois piece of German furniture of that period, which has been in obscurity for decades. |
| "The pieces are expected to achieve a figure in excess of $1m. | "The pieces are expected to achieve a figure in excess of $1m. |
| "In November 1929, during the period when Adolf Hitler was being introduced into society and positioned for high political office, he took delivery of a suite of furniture for his private residence in Prinzregentenplatz, which had been commissioned for him by I.H. Frau Bruckmann, the privy councillor. | "In November 1929, during the period when Adolf Hitler was being introduced into society and positioned for high political office, he took delivery of a suite of furniture for his private residence in Prinzregentenplatz, which had been commissioned for him by I.H. Frau Bruckmann, the privy councillor. |
| "It was a fascinating period and we really enjoyed researching the pieces - discovering Hitler's day-to-day-life." | "It was a fascinating period and we really enjoyed researching the pieces - discovering Hitler's day-to-day-life." |
| The desk was made by a former Bavarian court furniture maker | The desk was made by a former Bavarian court furniture maker |
| The furniture, which included a desk, a bookshelf, a table and chairs, was manufactured by the former Bavarian court furniture maker, M Ballin. | The furniture, which included a desk, a bookshelf, a table and chairs, was manufactured by the former Bavarian court furniture maker, M Ballin. |
| The rectangular desk has a leather writing surface in its centre and a drawer on each side with each latch bearing the Ballin company name. | The rectangular desk has a leather writing surface in its centre and a drawer on each side with each latch bearing the Ballin company name. |
| Below the drawers are cupboards and in the left hand one there is an iron plate bolted to the base - it is thought possibly, for a safe. | Below the drawers are cupboards and in the left hand one there is an iron plate bolted to the base - it is thought possibly, for a safe. |
| When Munich fell in early 1945, it was occupied by the US Army. | When Munich fell in early 1945, it was occupied by the US Army. |
| Mr Katchadorian added: "Little is known about how the desk and chair found their way to America but the US government held a sale of wartime confiscated artefacts during the early 1970s. | Mr Katchadorian added: "Little is known about how the desk and chair found their way to America but the US government held a sale of wartime confiscated artefacts during the early 1970s. |
| "It is possible that this was when the furniture was sold into private hands. | "It is possible that this was when the furniture was sold into private hands. |
| "It may well find itself in a museum or a university collection if it is not bought by another private buyer." | "It may well find itself in a museum or a university collection if it is not bought by another private buyer." |