Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

Well, it's been in my husband's family. It was hung over his grandfather's desk on Tea Wharf.

APPRAISER

How far back does that go?

GUEST

In the late 1800s, early 1900s.

APPRAISER

And so he, he might have been the one who possibly even purchased this from John Bellamy. It was carved by John Bellamy. He was the town carver of Kittery, Maine, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He worked in the navy yards, had his own carving shop. It's a wonderful, paint-decorated carved eagle. Prototypical Bellamy with the square beak and the red eye. The saying "Remember the Maine" helps date it. It's late 19th century, late 1890s. And you see the support there?

GUEST

Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER

That he put on the wing? It's totally original. Beautiful, beautiful pine. And what's wonderful about it is, there's an early appraisal on here, that in 1960, this was appraised for $250.

GUEST

That's correct.

APPRAISER

You're looking at something that would be valued in the $35,000 to $45,000 range.

GUEST

(laughing): Oh, wow.

APPRAISER

Yeah, it's just...

GUEST

That is unbelievable.

APPRAISER

Collectors love the "Remember the Maine." It's one of his more popular sayings. So, congratulations.

GUEST

Oh, thank you so much. Oh!