An unusual, unofficial Canadian metal wing

[zorgon]

Presented here is another recent eBay purchase. This style of metal novelty wing is defiantly unofficial. If it hadn’t been mentioned by Warren Carroll, it would be of little significance in the collecting world I think; more of an enigma. In “Eagles Recalled”, p. 83 he notes the wing has been seen with and without a pin assembly and, as in this case, sometimes fastened to a picture frame.
It is manufactured in two pieces. The Crown and General Service style “Canada” were formed in one stamping and then attached to the wings which were stamped separately.
The wing measures 3 ¾” in width, 1 1/8” in height and is quite shaped in depth with the wings curved in all three planes. It appears to be a stamped (Warren describes it as die struck) from 20 gauge (0.032”) copper-bronze and fastened onto the picture frame with an electro-tack at two points on the wing. The frame measures 8 X 10”.
Dating
Since there are no hallmarks, Makers Mark, numbers or letters of any kind that I can see, it’s hard to date. Warren suggests it is similar in style to a Marshall Field production. Some notes on that company:
• Marshall Field & Company aka Marshall Field’s was a legendary department store in Chicago Illinois.
• Marshall Field’s opened the fully equipped Marshall Field & Co. Craft Shop and Metal Foundry circa 1904.
• A distinctive acid etched patina was applied to many of the items produced. In the later years of the Craft Shop “handwrought” items were only partially hand made.
• Department Store with a metalsmithing shop on the 10th floor – The Craft Shop.
• Combined machinery and hand craftsmanship to create the contemporary “craft” styles for their customers.
• Highly specialized workers with each step being completed by a different “specialist.”
Based on the style of frame design, the pattern of the paper backing and the soft felt like material of the reverse of the frame, I would suggest it was manufactured somewhere between the 1920’s and 40’s – a pretty wide range. Comments and opinions on this would be most welcome as I’m no expert on any of these components.
It would only be speculation to assume this is the origin of the item but until additional evidence surfaces to suggest otherwise…
Regards to all,
Zorgon