Vintage Brass Eagle with Shield Bookends

This is a pair of brass vintage eagle bookends. The bookends depict an eagle, with its wings tucked behind its body and head turned in profile. The eagle supports a Union Shield on its breast and clutches a laurel branch and bundle of arrows in its talons. The eagle's feathers are intricately detailed. 

The eagle motif in décor and folk art has been widely used throughout our nation's history, most notably as part of our Great Seal. The founders of the United States were fond of comparing their new republic with the Roman Republic, in which eagle imagery, usually the golden eagle, was prominent. On June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress adopted the design for the Great Seal of the United States depicting a bald eagle grasping 13 arrows and an olive branch with its talons.

When Charles Thomson put together the final design for the Great Seal, he placed a bundle of arrows in the eagle's left (sinister) talon. The official description specifies the bald eagle holding "in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows." The thirteen arrows are tightly aligned – a symbol of "strength in unity" that's found in the traditional cultures everywhere, from the Romans to the Iroquois— in this case a nod to the unity of the original 13 colonies.

CONDITION: 

Overall fine condition. Bright brass coloring on fronts of both bookends, with scattered light dents and surface scuffs to bookend bodies.  Back extends, with flat bottom, for sturdy support to books. Back screwed at base with three screws. Lightly felted on bottom. Engraved with "Japan" on back. 

Dimensions: 6" H x 4 3/4" W x 3 1/2" D each. 

This item is offered for sale by The Great Republic. Accompanied by the company's letter of authenticity.