John Haley Bellamy

John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914) was a noted New England folk artist, known for his highly stylized carved wooden eagles and other decorative items for ships and homes. Bellamy was born in Kittery, Maine in 1836, and stayed there for much of his career. [http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/search/ArtistKeywords.aspx?artist=101565 John Bellamy - Artist (askart.com)] ] Later in his life he lived and worked elsewhere in New England. Although carving was his primary means of supporting himself, he never considered himself to be an "artist," and he is not known to have signed any of his pieces. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/highlights/2006/providence/fts_hour3_1.html Bellamy Eagles: When Values Soar (pbs.org)] ] His eagles are highly desired in the collectors' market, with some selling recently (as of 2007) for over US$100,000, and a large piece setting an artist-record price of US$660,000 at an August 2005 auction. Bellamy died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1914.

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