My late father, Col. Herbert Bronson Enderton, saw a piece just like the one above (a different copy) in Germany right after the end of World War II, while he was still missing his wife and children, and staying with other U.S. Army officers near Schweinfurt in Mainberg Castle. Dad told us that this castle had been owned by Wally Sachs (probably actually Willy Sachs), a ball-bearing magnate. At that time it apparently still contained Mr. Sachs' furnishings and other property. Here is what he wrote many years later, in the third person, in his memoirs:
"One of the many statuettes in the castle especially fascinated Herb. He took snapshots of it (with an OD army blanket for a background). He tried to buy it through Military Government, but was not permitted to buy it. He did not want to "liberate" it, as so many others were doing. It was a beautiful work of art, of gold and silver, except for the girl's head, shoulders, arms and hands, and the head and hands of the youth, which were of ivory. The faces were exquisitely carved with the greatest of detail. The youth's lyre, which he had dropped, does not show in the snapshot to the left.
"One week after Herb had been transferred to XII Corps Arty at Regensburg, Military Government changed its mind (unknown to Herb) and allowed everything in the castle to be sold at 1/10 of the appraised value! It is said that Lt. Baaken, who had acted as Herb's aide, bought the lovely statuette and immediately sold it to some Major at the appraised value. It is reported that the piece of art changed hands several times, but Herb was unable to find who had it. He felt the loss very much, and in later years always referred to it as 'my statue'."
Dad's first writing about this statue was in one of many love letters
to my mother, this one sent September 26, 1945 from Mainberg, Germany:
"Darling,
"There is one thing in this castle that I especially like. She is a lovely girl and I'm tempted to bring her home with me. She is simply adorable! (I should continue on like this and wait until you get to the next page before telling you that she is a statue).
"She is seated sidesaddle on a horse, and is looking down at a love-sick swain who has thrown his lyre on the ground. Her face, arms and hands (and his face and hands) are exquisitely carved ivory perfectly blended into the silver and gold metal of which the balance of the statuette is made.
"I'll try to take a picture of it, but I doubt whether the lighting will bring out the tenderness that the ivory carver has placed in her face.
"(Sounds as if I had been over here too long. I have!)
"The marble base adds to the weight of the statuette. The whole thing is quite difficult to move, although it is only about 12 inches high. . . .
"I hope that higher headquarters will someday realize that there are plenty of Colonels over here and want to send me home.
"I love you!