Wood Carving of the Great Seal of the United States
Object Details
- Artist
- Ira Blount
- Date
- 1982
- Medium
- wood, leather
- Dimensions
- 8 × 22 1/2 × 7/8 in. (20.3 × 57.2 × 2.2 cm)
- Cite As
- Gift of Ira Blount
- Caption
- In this wood carving, artist and veteran Ira Blount pays tribute to the Great Seal of the United States. Like the national symbol, this features an eagle wielding a shield with thirteen stripes representing the original thirteen states. The bird holds an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left one, indicating peace and war respectively. Unlike the official seal, the eagle looks to the right toward war, perhaps a nod to Blount's service during World War II. The carving also lacks the scroll reading E Pluribus Unum (a Latin phrase meaning “out of many, one") and the field of stars.
- After moving to Washington, DC following the conclusion of the war, Ira Blount mastered dozens of artisanal crafts. His love for crafting, learning, and community engagement would endure over the course of his long life and career.
- Accession Number
- 2011.0004.0020
- Type
- woodwork
- See more items in
- Anacostia Community Museum Collection
- Data Source
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Record ID
- acm_2011.0004.0020
