Pair of Mercury Glass Curtain Tiebacks Engraved with the Arms of the United States
Circa 1876 - Diameter: 3 inches
 
A pair of mercury glass curtain tiebacks finely engraved with a bold representation of the Arms of the United States, depicting a spread-winged eagle above a shield of stars and vertical stripes, flanked by stylized branches. The composition closely follows the heraldic form derived from the Great Seal and reflects the widespread use of patriotic imagery in American decorative arts during the late nineteenth century.
 
Objects of this type were produced as ornamental fittings for drapery, intended to secure curtains while providing a reflective decorative accent within the interior. The engraved eagle and shield, symbols strongly associated with the centennial era, suggest production around the time of the nation’s hundredth anniversary, when patriotic motifs appeared prominently across a wide range of household objects.
 
Patriotic mercury glass examples are encountered infrequently, and surviving pairs are particularly desirable for their decorative presence and historical association with the celebratory material culture of the 1876 Centennial period.
 
Condition: Very fine, with light wear consistent with age.