1930s Externsteine Relief Teutoburg Forest Germany Vintage Postcard
About This Vintage Postcard
This evocative monochrome postcard captures the monumental "Descent from the Cross" relief carved directly into the Externsteine sandstone formations in the Teutoburg Forest. Considered the most significant Romanesque stone sculpture in Northern Europe, the relief is believed to have been created between 1115 and 1130 AD. The scene depicts Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea lowering Christ from the cross, with a unique representation of a bent "Irminsul" pillar at the base, symbolizing the triumph of Christianity over Germanic paganism. The site has long been a center of archaeological and spiritual interest, representing one of Germany's most enigmatic and historically debated cultural landmarks.
Details
Era: Divided Back (Circa 1920–1935)
City: Horn-Bad Meinberg
State or Region: Teutoburg Forest, North Rhine-Westphalia
Country: Germany
Topic: Externsteine, Descent from the Cross, Romanesque Sculpture, Teutoburg Forest, German History
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: None
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: R. Lederbogen, Halberstadt (No. 58)
Printer: Unknown (Marked with RL shield logo)
Print Type: Collotype
Additional Information
The manufacturing date for this card is estimated between 1920 and 1935, based on the publisher's activity period and the use of the "RL" shield logo. The card was published by R. Lederbogen, a prominent firm based in Halberstadt known for documenting German landmarks and heritage sites. The series number "26417" and the catalog number "58" are visible on the reverse, identifying its place in Lederbogen's extensive topographical catalog. The German caption on the front notes the relief as the "oldest monument of ancient Christian sculptural work in Northern Germany," citing the date 1096, which was the traditional dating accepted at the time this card was produced.
This postcard would look great framed or make an excellent addition to any collection.
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