This Eagle Clutching Anchor motif is the documented forerunner to the current modern day Department of Navy (DoN) Seal which itself was first established ca 1905. Talk about Navy tradition and slow to make changes! There can be no question that the lineage of todays DoN Seal began with the simple yet elegant "Eagle Clutching Anchor" as found on the below crystal decanter as well as on the following china fish server and demitasse cup dated 1898 and 1894 respectively.

The above cut crystal liqueur decanter stands about 8" high and has etched into it an Eagle Clutching a Fouled Anchor with Scripted Initials USN. This US Navy Decanter was most likely used in the Wardroom Officer's or possibly the Captain's Mess to dispense after dinner liqueur or wine.

As seen in the photo above, this US Navy decanter has the initials USN in stylized script on the reverse side of the Eagle Clutching Anchor. The crystal glass stopper is original to the piece, a rarity! This US Navy decanter is not for sale and for historical display purposes only.

The above demitasse cup and fish server have the exact same Eagle Clutching Fouled Anchor insignia as the above crystal decanter ensuring that this insignia or design was standardized and used on an entire collection of dinnerware.

Further, both the cup and fish server are bottomarked or backstampe with manufacturer name and dates of 1894 and 1898 respectively. So therefor it can be reasonably ascertained that the crystal decanter was used in the mid to late 1890's and was part of a Navy-issued standard spanning at least 4-5 years.

It is quite probable that this design and pattern was used up until 1905 when the earliest Department of Navy Seal as we know it today was first used. One can see how the 1894-1898 Eagle Clutching Anchor motif was incorporated into the final design of what is todays Department of Navy Seal. We have these three pieces in our collection plus a small bowl and coffee or broth cup both with the gold eagle clutching anchor.

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