1952 Brass Spread Eagle Bookends by Virginia Metalcrafters

Beautiful pair of brass spread-wing eagle bookends by Virginia Metalcrafters, stamped 1952. The eagle is shown with its wings fully spread and a laurel branch and bundle of arrows clutched in its left talon. The eagle clutches a Union shield across its breast. The Union shield has a chief with three stars and six stripes completing the design. 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. William J. Loth founded Virginia Metalcrafters in 1890, under the name Waynesboro Stove Company. The company, which made ornately cast Cook...

Nice set of high quality, heavy brass Virginia Metalcrafters "Spread Eagle" bookends. Made in Waynesboro Virginia in 1952. Can hold large stack of books. Great on a book shelf or d...

Nice set of high quality, heavy brass Virginia Metalcrafters Eagle bookends. Made in Waynesboro Virginia. Can hold large stack of books. Has thin felt rounds on bottom of each to pr...

A pair of scrolled brass bookends made by Virginia Metalcrafters for their 2001 Williamsburg collection. The bookends are cast with a fan of c scrolls, and marked in the back with th...

A very good looking pair of solid polished brass pineapple bookends, by Virginia Metalcrafters circa 1970s.

Beautiful pair of rare solid brass "Libertas & Justitia" collectible bookends with legends by Aristotle and Thomas Jefferson manufactured by Virginia Metalcrafters, circa 1996. The b...

Beautiful pair of rare solid brass "The Stallion" horse head bookends manufactured by Virginia Metalcrafters, circa 1954. The bookends are in good vintage condition with a few small...

Beautiful pair of brass verdigris patina "Sea Horse" bookends by Virginia Metalcrafters, circa 1990s. The bookends are in good vintage condition with a nice patina; they measure 6.25...

Beautiful pair of rare solid brass "Humanitas & Intellectus" collectible bookends with "The Doors to the Library of Congress" on the frontside manufactured by Virginia Metalcrafters,...

Beautiful pair of rare solid brass "Humanitas & Intellectus" collectible bookends with "The Doors to the Library of Congress" on the frontside manufactured by Virginia Metalcrafters,...