.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present lot is likely a variant of the 1902 Standard Eagle, which was produced in Philadelphia circa 1905. A manuscript notebook at Anderson House attributes the making of this model to Bailey, Banks & Biddle. The present model is nearly identical to the 1902 Standard eagle, except the 1902 example is not chased on the edges of the wings as seen on the present example. Another hallmark of the 1905 Philadelphia variant is the “near globe” silhouette of the medallion when viewed from the side. See Minor Myers Jr., The Insignia of The Society of the Cincinnati, 1989, pp. 90, 92, for examples of the 1902 Standard Eagle and the 1905 Philadelphia Variant Eagle.
Founded by officers of the Continental army and navy in 1783, the Society of the Cincinnati endeavored to preserve the friendships formed among members during service and to provide for impoverished families of the war. The Society was named after the Roman liberator Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus and the insignia features the Roman hero on a medallion applied to a gold eagle. While the original badge was designed by Major Pierre L'Enfant, later variations of both American and French manufacture, have been produced since then.
Founded by officers of the Continental army and navy in 1783, the Society of the Cincinnati endeavored to preserve the friendships formed among members during service and to provide for impoverished families of the war. The Society was named after the Roman liberator Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus and the insignia features the Roman hero on a medallion applied to a gold eagle. While the original badge was designed by Major Pierre L'Enfant, later variations of both American and French manufacture, have been produced since then.