“The Stinking Leader” – cast-iron paperweight in the form of Adolf Hitler depicted as a tail-wagging dog. England, early 1940s.
Engraved on the tail are the names of Hitler’s allies: Mussolini (the Italian leader) and Hirohito (the Japanese leader).
In the 1944 catalog of the Johnson Smith Company, the figurine was advertised as a doorstop and marketed under the name “Der Phew-er” – a satirical twist on the well-known German title Der Führer (“The Leader”). In English, “Phew” conveys a reaction to something unpleasant or smelly, creating a pun:
“Der Phew-er” = “The stinky leader” / “The disgusting Führer.”
Length: 13 cm. Maximum height: 12.5 cm. Weight: 1.3 kg. Light wear, good condition.
