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Sale 68
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Lot 131
[Society of the Cincinnati] Eagle Insignia. Gold eagle that belonged to Elihu Church (1881-1963), who became a member of the New York chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1912 by right of descent from original member James Stewart, Captain, 5th Regiment, NY Line. Church was the first, and apparently only, hereditary member on this line. He did not inherit membership from his father, so he would have acquired himself any eagle that he owned. He likely first purchased a New York eagle, since this was the society to which he belonged. He served as president of the New York chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1938.
This eagle is c. 1940s, in the style of Myers #67, which is a variation on the Connecticut eagle (#66, made by Braxmar & Co.). The gold is probably 14-18 karat gold based. Height: 41.64 mm. Width: 30.50mm. Obverse: Head to left, red eye, distinct crest to head, white enamel on tail; green enamel on wreath and branches. Tiffany medallion with gold on white: "OMNIA: RELINQUIT: SERVARE: REPUBLICAM" and showing three senators presenting a sword to Cincinnatus, whose wife and two children are behind him. Angle of roof points to "R" in "SERVARE." Reverse: Tiffany medallion with Cincinnatus at plow, Fame above, sunrise behind, and ship and building in distance; motto is "SOCIETAS: CINCINNATORUM: INSTITUTA: AD 1783." Tail has three layers, each with five leaves enameled white.
From the late 19th century, eagles were no longer handmade but cast from dies. The two-sided medallion is separate from the eagle itself; made in two pieces from two dies, it was then attached to the eagle. The enamel on the medallion, or other decorations, were customized, but the die-based attributes remained the same. Dates given in Myers (The Insignia of the Society of the Cincinnati by Minor Myers, Jr., 1998) usually refer to the first year a particular eagle design was used but the dies were used for years afterwards.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,500.
Estate of Elihu Church.
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| Realized $11,400 |
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