This handsome solid wood figure of a bobwhite quail was hand carved by Joe Bilbrey of Cookeville, Tennessee in the 1960's. Bilbrey was one of the craftsmen who created and sold his carvings at the Upper Cumberland Craft Center in Cookeville.
The bird is nicely carved, realistically hand painted, and mounted on a nicely gnarled piece of burl driftwood. It has glass eyes, wrapped wire legs and claws that perch on the peak of the burl. Bilbrey left the marks of the tools he used which gives the carving a lifelike texture.
The piece measures 8 1/2 inches long from the front edge of the wood to the tip of the tail and stands 8 3/4 inches tall to the top of the head. The bird itself is 7 inches long from beak to tail and 3 inches across the breast. The carving and mount weigh just about one pound.
The mark is stamped in black ink on the bottom: "HAND MADE AT JOHN MAXWELL'S UPPER CUMBERLAND CRAFT CENTER COOKEVILLE, TENNESSEE by {hand signed on line} Joe Bilbrey. Also hand written in black is "No 27".
Described as one of the craftsmen descended from area families who had a natural talent for "makin' things," Joe Bilbrey certainly was a talented carver who created this excellent quail.
Note: John Maxwell (1922-1981) started the Upper Cumberland Craft Center to sell his own carved birds and mountain dulcimers, for which he became widely known. The Center became Tennessee's largest mountain woodcraft shop.
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