A Carved, Painted and Gilded American Eagle Wall Plaque, Ivah W. Spinney, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, c. 1950

in the style of a John Haley Bellamy American eagle wall plaque, with outstretched flat wings and head, neck and United States shield carved in the round; signed on the back Ivah Spinney.

Ivah W. Spinney (1881-1963), wood carver and toy maker, was of native American descent, who spent most of his professional life as a gate-keeper on the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth. In his spare time, inspired by the famed Portsmouth marine carver, John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914).