Great Seal of the United States Rendition [Plaster]

Dublin Core

Title

Great Seal of the United States Rendition [Plaster]

Subject

Animal sculpture--20th century

Description

RENDITION OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, 1960
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.109

The style of this relief differs from the other works in the Museum. It is very detailed because the Seal of the United States is a standard design. It was established in 1782 to symbolize sovereignty. The American eagle, with an escutcheon, or shield, on its breast, symbolizes self-reliance. The thirteen vertical stripes on the escutcheon came from the flag of 1777. The eagle grasps an olive branch with 13 leaves and 13 olives in its right talon and 13 arrows in its left. (13 represent the number of US states in 1777.) It prefers to live in peace but can wage war. In its beak is a scroll. It is not inscribed here but it is usually inscribed "E pluribus unum", or "One out of many". Above its head is the 13-star "new constellation" of the 1777 flag, enclosed in a glory, or golden radiance, breaking through a cloud.

The relief was cast in aluminum and is located at the American Embassy in London, England.

Creator

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

Date

1960

Rights

Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum

Type

Sculpture

Coverage

University Center (Mich.)

Sculpture Item Type Metadata

Physical Dimensions

71.5" dia

Materials

Plaster

Catalog Number

1991.109

Object Location

Main Exhibit Gallery

Provenance

1989 March, 22 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control

Notes

From Jennifer Lentz:
"Molly told me that Eero Saarinen and Associates were the architects on the U.S. Embassy in London where an aluminum cast is located. It was cast by the Flour City Ornamental Iron Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "

From Michale Panhorst:
"There is a Great Seal on the United States at Seaholm High School in Birmingham [MI} from 1946. It is a rectangular shaped marble memorial with a bronze or aluminum eagle. This is not the same sculptural form as our Great Seal."

Files

1991.109.jpg

Citation

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Great Seal of the United States Rendition [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed November 24, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5151.