Q: This little skunk figure was sitting on a table at home as far back as I can remember. I recall my mother saying it was "The Phew-er." What can you tell me about it?A: During World War II, novelty anti-Axis items were popular. Many represented Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo and sold for less than a dollar. The Johnson Smith & Co. 1944 catalog offered several anti-Hitler items, including a cast-iron skunk figure called "Der Phew-er" ("shows Hitler as he really is"), a Hitler skunk ashtray, a Hotzi-Notzi pincushion (according to the catalog, FDR had one on his desk), and a Hitler squealing pig bank. Johnson Smith Co. is still in business in Bradenton, Florida, and still sells novelty items through its catalogs. Several different Hitler skunk figures were made in cast iron, chalkware, pottery, and plastic. Twin Winton made a ceramic Hitler skunk, Mussolini pig, and Tojo rat. Reproductions of your Hitler skunk figure have been made. If yours is an original cast-iron Hitler skunk, it could sell for close to $300. Pottery versions sell for about half that.
8 comments:
Curious, i found in a box several years ago a smoking pipe in which the bowl is in the shape of Hitlers head,haven't found anything about this, any clues,it is hand carved in wood. thanks, ray
I literally JUST this weekend scored an iron cast Hitler skunk in an antique store in Ventura for a song, and I will be posting it to Ebay shortly. If anyone is interested let me know. -Holly
I have been in possesion of a wooden Hitler skunk approximately 5 inches long that was supposedly carved by my Godfather during WWII. I got it when he died, we bought his house and my mom said I could have it for cleaning out his garage. The details on the face point to a handcarving (he liked to whittle) and a swastika where a skunk perfume comes out of. Anyone know if this is one a kind, one of many, and what it may be worth? I have never seen anything like this. I can email pictures if needed. Thanks, R.C.
I too have a wooden Hitler skunk that my Dad supposedly got when he was in WWII in the 40's. I also have one like it that is Tojo with the Japanese symbol instead of the Swastika. I would like to know more about them also, if anyone has any information.
Thanks,
Linda
Wow! I live n the middle of Kansas and just found one of these wooden Hitler skunks in an old box stored in a dirty old shed for god knows how many years. This is the only site that I've seen anything about this hand carved figurine. If anyone knows any history on these please let us know:) Thanx, Jonny
Wow! I found one of these wooden handcarved skunks in an old barn in Kansas
I have a wooden skunk with hitler's face..The tail is broken off.
I would like to glue another one on,,,but what did the original look like? This one is only 3 inches long..
Carl,,Burbank,Ca
I have a feeling that the wooden carved Hitler skunk painted with swastika on the hind end were not carved by someone's grand dad...I have had one that I purchased at a militaria show about 15 years ago and the dealer said that they were not a common item, but never indicated that it was one of a kind. If I remember right, I paid about $200 for it then, but that was before the recession, so they are probably not worth so much now.
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