Eagle with many questions ...

This eagle figurine is a flea market find. The Chinese wooden base, seen to the left, is my addition and not original to the figurine, so no need for taking that into your considerations.

The eagle is made of black lacquered brass and iron. No holes for nails or screws. No thread. Height: 13.5 cm. Width: 14.5 cm. Inner diam.: 4.3 cm.

Is it meant as desk top ornament ? Flag pole top ornament ? Hood ornament for a veteran or vintage car ?

Where does it come from and when ? Which sculptor designed it ? Who made it ?


They couldn't find anything out at the V & A in London, but maybe you know some of the answers ?

 

i'm going with flag pole...or maybe even a gate ornament ....

 

I am surprised that the V&A communicates with you at all. I have never had a museum offer help, they always give some blanket response about liabilities.

 

Some museums give great help, but I have yet to get a reply to something I asked the V&A about years ago. The same goes for some other museums. I won't hold my breath.

On the other hand, Te Papa Museum in Wellington, New Zealand, gave me more information than I asked for. The Dutch Rijksmuseum has also been very helpful.

 

About the flag pole top ornament theory: Possible, but the eagle has no holes for fixing with nails or screws ?

About answers from V & A: They get many questions, so it takes some time to get an answer. Maybe they find me sympathetic ? I like that theory !

 

I think this is an excellent guess!