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Bellamy Eagle
The American eagle is a cherished symbol of grace, strength, and independence, but its meaning as a patriotic symbol of the American spirit deepens when it is sculpted by the inventive 19th-century woodcarver John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914).
Bellamy, the son of a well-to-do Maine state senator and shipyard owner, was educated and trained in New York City and Boston. A cultured and sophisticated man, Bellamy spent most of his life in the neighboring towns of Kittery Point, Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he carved hundreds of eagles out of wood. Bellamy eagles are now avidly sought by museums and collectors alike.
The typical Bellamy eagle has spread wings about 2 feet wide, an upturned head, and carries a standard and banner lettered with a motto, a Latin saying, or a sentiment. Many of these carvings, bearing sentiments such as “Don’t Give Up the Ship” or “Happy New Year,” were made for and given to friends for use as decoration on buildings and homes, but other rare examples exist that differ in size, technique, and original purpose.
The composition of a typical Bellamy eagle, which changed little over his career, is actually quite simple and modern in concept. In an effort to capture the essence of an eagle, Bellamy focused on the most powerful parts—the spreading wings; the thick, strong neck; and the sharp, hooked beak. It’s not so much a portrait of an eagle as it is an impression of one.
Bellamy eagles are made from four pieces of wood, usually white pine: a 1-inch-deep board for the wings, and three blocks of wood formed into the neck and head, the banner, and the standard or pole. The head is attached to the body by a screw through the center of the back, which is then covered with a paper label. Most were completed in a few hours and painted white with details over-painted in red and blue. Gilding was also common. The back was never painted. When Bellamy worked in the round or made larger eagle sculptures, his techniques differed. Because a die-cast stamp of Bellamy’s name is known to exist, it is believed that the artist may have stamped his name on each eagle, but secretively hid the mark between glued wood pieces where only he might find it later, if necessary.
Because most Bellamy eagles were carved in pine and installed outdoors, their value is greatly affected by condition. Most Bellamy eagles will have at least some damage, including chipped wings, paint loss, and deteriorated wood. Reproductions of the eagles are common and have been produced for a century, starting during Bellamy’s lifetime. In fact, some good, well-constructed early repros have even become collectible in their own right.
Bellamy, the son of a well-to-do Maine state senator and shipyard owner, was educated and trained in New York City and Boston. A cultured and sophisticated man, Bellamy spent most of his life in the neighboring towns of Kittery Point, Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he carved hundreds of eagles out of wood. Bellamy eagles are now avidly sought by museums and collectors alike.
The typical Bellamy eagle has spread wings about 2 feet wide, an upturned head, and carries a standard and banner lettered with a motto, a Latin saying, or a sentiment. Many of these carvings, bearing sentiments such as “Don’t Give Up the Ship” or “Happy New Year,” were made for and given to friends for use as decoration on buildings and homes, but other rare examples exist that differ in size, technique, and original purpose.
The composition of a typical Bellamy eagle, which changed little over his career, is actually quite simple and modern in concept. In an effort to capture the essence of an eagle, Bellamy focused on the most powerful parts—the spreading wings; the thick, strong neck; and the sharp, hooked beak. It’s not so much a portrait of an eagle as it is an impression of one.
Bellamy eagles are made from four pieces of wood, usually white pine: a 1-inch-deep board for the wings, and three blocks of wood formed into the neck and head, the banner, and the standard or pole. The head is attached to the body by a screw through the center of the back, which is then covered with a paper label. Most were completed in a few hours and painted white with details over-painted in red and blue. Gilding was also common. The back was never painted. When Bellamy worked in the round or made larger eagle sculptures, his techniques differed. Because a die-cast stamp of Bellamy’s name is known to exist, it is believed that the artist may have stamped his name on each eagle, but secretively hid the mark between glued wood pieces where only he might find it later, if necessary.
Because most Bellamy eagles were carved in pine and installed outdoors, their value is greatly affected by condition. Most Bellamy eagles will have at least some damage, including chipped wings, paint loss, and deteriorated wood. Reproductions of the eagles are common and have been produced for a century, starting during Bellamy’s lifetime. In fact, some good, well-constructed early repros have even become collectible in their own right.
Latest page update: made by jsonderg
, Apr 19 2007, 1:35 PM EDT
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