Seller maintains this is a genuine Hitler watercolor.

someone's grandfather had it then he died and left them to granddaughter. They turned up in the 1980s.

 

It is a pretty watercolour, and it does look like something he could have painted. But given the recent interest in his works, mostly from questionable circles, I am sure there are fakes around.
He never had a very distinct style, so faking shouldn't be too difficult. You could even take a non-descript unsigned watercolour of the period (or earlier) and put his siggy on it.

A sad irony, apparently many of the early buyers of his works were Jewish, so if you know who the grandfather was, maybe this information can help.

 

Not such a sad irony. I totally get it. I know someone who’s a collector of Hitler memorabilia. The first time I saw the stuff I flipped until they told me that Hitler should plotz (drop dead) that so many of his personal things are in a Jewish home.

 

Sweet revenge.

The early buyers were from before his ideology became known. He may not even have developed the ideology at the time. The first art dealer who gave him a chance and sold his early paintings was also Jewish.

 

Definitely true. The people I know have furniture, a phone and more. The collection was started by his father.

 

How common is the name? It could be by Hitler without being by that Hitler.

 

No clue here but my understanding is that the name is uncommon as it goes back to a mis-spelling.

 

Thought he was Alois Schicklgruber before he was Hitler. Or was Hitler a name he took as an artist?

 

Yes, the original spelling is Hiedler, which changed to Hitler in the late 19th century. It was a peasant region, and many people were illiterate.

Alois Schicklgruber was his father. Which means Adolf's surname would have been Schicklgruber, had his father not been adopted by Hiedler.
Alois was born 'illegitimate' and originally had his mother's surname.

 

Can’t imagine why you would want anything in your home that was owned or painted by that evil man.. I find the idea sickening!!

 

Yes I read that..Absolutely still don’t get it!

 

I think one has to be a survivor to really relate to the intended insult. The man who started the collection survived Auschwitz and his son continued the collection after he passed.

 

I hear you.. Must be then.. Still won’t sleep in that house

 

i’m sure you’re not alone in feeling that way. I wouldn’t want it either.

 

I remember that. I still call him Hister sometimes.

And no, I wouldn't want anything that was made or belonged to him either.
But I know surviving is like your own personal victory, and people celebrate that in different ways. If someone wanted everyone of your religion or other background killed, there is an even greater sense of survival.
Owning something of the enemy is like celebrating your survival, I can see that.

 

Seizing something of your enemy's as a trophy is an ancient practice.

 

Exactly.