Description: Resting bird, head slightly tucked, bill downwards, tail swept up and wing tips cropped; minimal carved detail, incised wings ; glass eyes, metal legs and feet with talons clutching downward on driftwood burl base. Signed "Gilley" on top of base, lower left; no date on piece but approximately 1948.
Description: Gull in adult plumage, head erect and straight ahead, wing tips balanced high over tail, feet braced on a navigational buoy called a red nun. Glass eyes, wire legs and metal feet. Buoy painted with white Arabic numeral "4". Carved oval pine base, gouge-carved and painted to resemble sea water. No date visible.
Description: Herring gull in adult plumage, taking off from a smooth burl driftwood base ; carved with minimum of detail; outside wing edges notched to suggest feathers; painted eyes, bill, legs and feet. W.H.G. marked on underside of base ; no date on piece but probably from the 1940s
Description: Male bufflehead in adult plumage, swimming position ; head withdrawn and turned slightly to the left ; glass eyes, matte black, white, greys with minimal body detail ; blending of red/orange on head behind white wedge. Underside signed in pyrographic scratching "W.H.G." "Gilley" branded in script. Also written in felt-tip pen " '82 Buffle-Head".
Description: Canvasback drake in swimming position, adult plumage, scant carved detail ; completely withdrawn head, turned slightly to the right. Signed "by W. H. Gilley 1971"
Description: Adult in swimming position, head erect on slightly bent neck facing straight forward; glass eyes ; signed "Gilley 72" on underside where felt is cut away
Description: Now known as American Wigeon ; marked "Baldpate '74, #28" on underside of base ; humped "clamshell" base is a driftwood burl ; wire legs and metal feet with tiny talons; signed "Gilley" on left front of base
Description: Adult male and female mounted on pine and twig base, the lower bird (female) in downward crouching position, the male perched on lower fork of twig ; wire legs and metal feet, glass eyes ; signed "Gilley" on carved base.
Description: Adult, standing on mesquite base, tail erect ; glass eyes, metal feet, carved, burned, and painted detail ; carved circa 1977, painted and completed winter, 1981. Signed "Gilley" with artist's branding iron on flat side of base. Companion piece 81.1.175.
Description: Life-size adult "running" on mesquite base ; glass eyes, metal feet, carved, burned and painted detail ; carved circa 1977, painted and completed winter 1981. Unsigned. Companion piece 81.1.174.
Description: Solitary sandpiper perched with wings upright on driftwood branch ; spotted sandpiper standing, body tilted downward, on carved oblong base. Signed "Gilley" on left front of oblong base ; no date
Description: Adult woodcock with feet stretching downward over face of the domed burl base ; head erect facing straight ahead with long bill pointed downward ; glass eyes, wire legs and metal feet. Signed "Gilley '80" on right side of base ; Marked "Woodcock by W.H. Gilley 1980" on underside of base.
Description: Two adult birds on a roughly "J" shaped driftwood base ; glass eyes ; cast lead legs and feet. Signed "Gilley" on right side of driftwood base below the sitting gull ; inscribed "Made for Hilda - Hulda Bragdon 1972" on underside of base.
Description: Postcard depicting a carved mallard on a driftwood base signed "Gilley" ; "Mallard Drake bird carving by Wendell Gilley" printed on reverse side of card.
Description: Postcard depicting a carved Canada goose which appears to be flying over a hedge ; "Canada Goose bird carving by Wendell Gilley" printed on reverse side of card.
Description: Wendell Gilley carved the chickadee in this photo used as an advertisement for Warren Tool shortly before his death in 1982. Mounted on mat board ; Warren Tool Co. label on reverse side of board. Accompanied by handwritten note from Fred Clark, President of Warren Tool.
Description: Photograph of an interior showing gull carvings, including a mobile, by Wendell Gilley. Stamped "Anchor Light Studio, W.H. Ballard, Southwest Harbor, Maine" on back.
Description: Photograph of a herring gull carved by Wendell Gilley. The gull is perched on a buoy with the number 7 painted on it. Behind the gull is a painted scene of water and rocks. Stamped "W.H. Ballard, Photographer, S. W. Harbor, Me" on back.
Description: Photograph of a pair of cinnamon (?) teal carved by Wendell Gilley. Marked "Sam Rayburn" on reverse. "1958" written in blue ballpoint lower right corner.
Description: Photograph of five birds carved by Wendell Gilley. Clockwise from left: black duck, Canada goose, canvasback, harlequin duck, and common eider. Stamped "W.H. Ballard, Photographer, S. W. Harbor, Me" on back. Numbered "#28" in pencil above stamp.
Description: Photograph of bald eagle, perched with wings spread above fish on oval base, carved by Wendell H. Gilley. Marked "Eagle with fish by Wendell Gilley" in ink on reverse side.
Description: Photograph of a marbled (?) godwit carved by Wendell H. Gilley. The carving appears to be part of a diorama. On reverse side in pencil: "George W. Pepper 3rd" . "Roche Photography, Caldwell N.J." stamp on reverse.
Description: Letter to the President of Warren Tool Co., Fred Clark, concerning wood carving tools and ways of holding tools on a work bench. Also mentioned is a grouse carving loaned to Harry Meech, one of the founders of the National Carvers Museum.
Description: Letter to the president of Warren Tool Co. from artist Ekstrom about an article and artwork of Wendell Gilley's chickadee for Popular Woodworking. Ekstrom describes how he had to carve the chickadee himself before he could finish the article.
Description: Wendell Gilley seated in his workshop next to a window with miniature carvings on windowsill. "Credit: Roche, Caldwell N.J." stamped on reverse.
Description: Adult male in breeding plumage depicted on a wooden piling attached to egg-shaped pine base ; cast lead legs and feet, glass eyes ; signed "Gilley '75" on front of base. Underside of base marked: "Hilda and Hulda Bragdon, 1975" and signed "by Wendell Gilley"
Description: Adult bird balances on the front face of burl base with wire legs and toes with talons clutching downward ; deeply arched back with vertical tail and bill pointing almost to sky. Glass eyes. Signed "Gilley/'78" on top edge of base. Underside of base marked "House Wren 1978, #34" and stamped "Wendell H. Gilley".
Description: Glass eyes ; wire and metal feet and legs ; feet are atop a "stump" of a small branch mounted in turn on a carved pine base. Underside of base marked "Hermit Thrush by Wendell Gilley 1977.
Description: Blue jay with real acorn in its beak perched on driftwood branch on oval base ; wire and metal legs and feet ; glass eyes ; signed "Gilley" on front of base ; no date
Description: Signed "Gilley" on right of carved wooden base. Underside of base marked "'Ring-neck Ducks' by Wendell Gilley, Southwest Harbor Maine ; Made especially for Dr. Claud F. Young". Not dated.
Description: Heron standing on driftwood base with beak pointing upward against painted background. In pencil on reverse: "Blue Heron." "Credit: Roche, Caldwell N.J." stamped on reverse.
Description: Letter thanking Fred Clark, President of Warren Tool Co., for promoting the Gilley Museum in its catalog. The letter also describes winter events at the museum as well as the museum's collection of taxidermy.
Description: Photograph of Gilley chickadee carving used to sell blanks in the Warren Tool catalog. Note on reverse written by Warren Tool president Fred Clark: "Note: Carved chickadee (shown) personal gift from the late Wendall [sic] Gilley..."
Description: Adult male roadrunner in a typical "striding" position, head outstretched with slightly dropped wings. Minimal carved detail, more developed painted detail. Glass eyes, wire legs, metal feet. Mounted on oval pine base, gouge-carved and painted. Marked on underside of base in ballpoint pen: "Road Runner"; signed "Gilley" on lower edge of top of base. No date
Description: Carving of a half-bodied mallard duck in flight superimposed on a painted scene of shoreline and water ; duck approximately seven inches long, six inches high ; both legs are broken off and missing ; traces of practice painting on reverse ; edges painted silver ; signed bottom right "Gilley"
Description: Family of bald eagles, the female perched on the edge of the nest containing two chicks, the male on a branch above with wings spread ; signed "Gilley" on base ; no visible date
Description: Two Chickadees mounted on driftwood branch attached to carved wooden base ; upper bird is upside down, lower bird faces out from branch ; glass eyes, wire legs and feet ; no visible date ; signed "Gilley" on rear of base.
Description: Chickadee with head down perched on driftwood branch attached to carved oval wooden base ; glass eyes, wire legs and feet ; signed "Gilley" on rear left of base ; no date visible
Description: Male mallard mounted on driftwood attached to smooth painted wooden base ; signed "Gilley" in light grey on front of base; no visible date
Description: Owl looking over left shoulder, perched on driftwood base. Inscribed "Made especially for Hilda + Hulda Bragdon , Saw whet owl" on underside of base ; signed W.H. Gilley and dated 1969.
Description: Approx. 1/4 life size group of four; two males, two females on driftwood branch mounted on smooth oblong wooden base. Underside of base inscribed "Wood Ducks by Wendell Gilley 1976".
Description: Open winged gull with metal legs and feet mounted on driftwood branch ; signed "Gilley" in black on top of base beneath gull's beak and dated 1962.
Description: One chickadee hanging upside down near top of branch above second chickadee perched on lower part of branch. Branch attached to carved oval wooden base. Underside of base inscribed "Chickadees by Wendell Gilley S.W. Harbor, Maine. No date visible.
Description: Saw-whet owl looking to the side, perched on driftwood branch. Underside of driftwood inscribed Saw Whet Owl by W.H. Gilley 1969. Signed "Gilley" on lower part of driftwood near owl's tail.
Description: Saw-whet owl looking to the side, perched on driftwood branch attached to carved wooden base by single screw. Underside of base inscribed Saw-whet Owl 1/2 life size made for Mary Holmes 1973. Signed "Gilley" on lower part of driftwood branch.
Description: Great blue heron standing on driftwood branch. Metal legs and feet. Branch signed "Gilley '73" near feet. Underside inscribed "Gt. Blue Heron", "Addie Gilley",
Description: Decorative three dimensional eagle plaque, head turned left, painted gold, made from two pieces of wood. Has screw eye for hanging. Signed " W.H. Gilley" on back of right wing. Marked "Addie Gilley."
Description: Adult male sitting in the crotch of a Y shaped twig mount, body facing forward but head turned completely to the left ; glass eyes ; swirled driftwood root base. Signed "Gilley" and dated '71 on underside of base. Appears to have been overmarked '72
Description: Adult male goldfinch in summer plumage sitting on real branch ; "Gilley" signature on front topside of base almost completely faded ; additionally underside bears jackknife rubber stamp Gilley mark ; underside of base marked "Wedding gift to Joe + Anne Bragdon from Wendell H. Gilley + Addie" ; dated Oct, 4, 1981.
Description: One marked "Made for Hilda Bragdon by W.H. Gilley" on underside of base. The other marked "Made for Hulda Bragdon by W.H. Gilley" on underside of base. Both dated 1970.
Description: Marked "Model made by Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Carved on a carving machine. Assembled + painted by Wendell Gilley." Has round label "1M" on bottom.
Description: Birds painted in summer plumage. Bottom of driftwood base marked "Made for Hilda + Hulda Bragdon, Xmas 1971." Signed "Gilley" on right front of base.
Description: Smooth oval pine disc base with gnarled driftwood root ; midway up the driftwood is mounted the bird, carved in characteristic seed-opening position with tail braced downward and bill pointed at ground ; glass eyes, wire legs, and metal feet grasping "branch." Signed "Gilley" on top edge of base. No date
Description: Painted board with miniature flying mallard attached. Inscribed on back "Given to J.E. Brown by Wendelll Gilley circ. 1936"; "Presented to the Gilley Museum July 1984."
Description: Very early Gilley diorama ; carved and painted American goldeneye against painted winter scene on board. Marked "Made about 1935 Wendell Gilley" on back. Signed "Gilley on bottom front.
Description: L-shaped driftwood branch serves as base for three gulls, positioned (left to right) taking off, raising wings, standing erect ; birds show totally different bill carvings, and the similar but minutely different paint indicates a transitional period (1940's?); unsigned
Description: Two chickadees, near life size, on driftwood, both with glass eyes, metal legs and feet, carved and painted detail ; both upright, left chickadee has head down. Signed, dated on rear of base "Gilley '58".
Description: Adult male in a naturalistic, though simplified pose, mounted on the larger prong of a smooth, two-pronged driftwood branch ; ovoid gouge-carved pine base ; glass eyes, wire legs and broadly-spread toes gripping driftwood "tree". Signed "Gilley" on back of driftwood mount near the base. No date
Description: One of five eiders Wendell Gilley wanted to make for the museum at the end of his life. He was able to complete three. "Gilley" engraved on undersides of body and head.
Description: Adult male on gnarled driftwood root; glass eyes, wire legs and cut metal feet. Signed "Gilley '78" on oblong pine base ; underside of base marked "Evening Grosbeak #33"
Description: Adult male perched on branching twig on carved pine base ; wire legs and metal feet with talons grasping the branch ; glass eyes. Entire body covered with fine incised lines, deeper where suggesting primaries and tail feathers. Underside of base marked "Red-winged blackbird by W. H. Gilley 1977".
Description: Life size; clinging to twig in characteristic upside-down position, twig screwed to shaped wooden base; pinhead eyes, wire legs and feet, detail in color and relief; Signed "Gilley '73." Marked "Chickadee for Addie Gilley, 1973" on underside.
Description: Adult male, approximately life size, sitting on twig, head slightly cocked and turned left ; no visible legs, cut metal talons ; glass eyes. Signed in felt tip pen "by W. H. Gilley" and dated 1976 on underside of base; also faintly signed on top lower right of base