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John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914) Kittery Point, Maine

SOLD
Carved Eagle with Banner Don’t Give Up the Ship with polychrome paint
Ca. 1875-1900
Carved and painted pine
Bellamy was best known for his carved patriotic eagle wall plaques intended as house decoration, architectural ornaments (usually of a larger size) and used for hanging above doorways on yachts. It is thought that he was inspired by the national pride generated during Philadelphia’s Centennial Exhibition in 1876. Wall plaques such as this example generally followed the same format: stylized outstretched wings carved in relief from one piece of pine, the three dimensional carved eagle’s head and neck were attached to the wings with a screw, (the screw hole often covered with paper), the distinctively pattern feathers, to include the squiggly lines above the head and the foreshortened head and neck. Bellamy’s eagles all have fierce expressions with large carved beaks. This plaque exemplifies all the attributes that Bellamy used in his techniques for carving patriotic eagles.
Condition: Early repair to banner where it meets the staff, otherwise in a fine state of preservation. Retains virtually all the original polychrome paint decoration.
Provenance: Descended through a family from West Newbury, MA

Dimensions: 8"h x 25 5/8"l x 3 1/2"d

Item ID: FA-WDCRVG 315

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