Carved eagle plaque attributed to John Bellamy, lettered "PASSACONAWAY.", "TRIBE No. 5.", "MANCHESTER," "N. H."; and "T.O.T.E."

carved eagle wall plaque

CARVINGS
Bellamy, John Haley (attribution)
USA, NH, Manchester
after 1881
Wood (pine)
overall: 27 1/2 x 44 1/2 x 6 in.

Hand carved, painted and gilded pine eagle wall plaque with spread wings, head turned to the right, grasping a shield decorated with stars and stripes; lettered on alternating stripes on the shield are "PASSACONAWAY.", "TRIBE No. 5.", "MANCHESTER," and "N. H."; across the breast is lettered "T.O.T.E.", an abbreviation for "Totem of the Eagle"; used by the Manchester, N.H., group of the 'Improved Order of the Red Men', formed in 1881 from that national fraternal organization; attributed to John Haley Bellamy (1836 - 1914) based on research conducted for an exhibit (2013) of work by that artist by the Portsmouth Historical Society, New Hampshire.

1952.1204