UPRIGHT PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY BY JERRYUPRIGHT PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY BY JERRY ST. CLAIR, ROCKPORT, ME Signed and identified on the underside, dated 2006, having glass eyes, with carved, painted and inked feathers, 12" x 12 1/2" x 5 1/2".
PINTAIL BY JOSEPH LINCOLN An incrediblyPINTAIL BY JOSEPH LINCOLN An incredibly clean and crisp pintail drake. The form on this bird is truly Lincoln with a sharp paint pattern, delicate stippling and fine pinstripe feathering on the back. All combine to make this bird an exemplary example of Lincoln's work. Unsigned. Identified as "PINTAIL" in pencil on bottom.
3 3/4" long.
Surface original and excellent in all respects.
CAMERON MCINTYRE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOYCAMERON MCINTYRE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY VIRGINIA, 1968 LENGTH 20”.CAMERON MCINTYRE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY, Virginia, 1968, "CTM" carved into underside. Dimensions: Length 20".
PINTAIL DRAKEJ. Eugene Hendrickson (1899-1971)
Northfield,PINTAIL DRAKEJ. Eugene Hendrickson (1899-1971)
Northfield, NJ, c. 1960
16 in. long
A hollow drake with the maker's "JEH" stamp on the underside.
Original paint with light wear.
Provenance: Robert Shisler Collection, acquired from the maker
OUTSTANDING PINTAIL DRAKERobert "Bob"OUTSTANDING PINTAIL DRAKERobert "Bob" White (b. 1939)
Tullytown, PA, 1994
19 in. long
A raised-wing pintail displaying the maker's quail lead weight on the underside of the hollow body.
Original paint with light wear and hairline crack in tail.
Provenance: D. Slipp Collection
Private Collection, New Jersey
PINTAIL DRAKECharles Reeves (1877-1941)
LongPINTAIL DRAKECharles Reeves (1877-1941)
Long Point, ON, Canada, c. 1900
17 in. long
A classic Long Point pintail from the Club's distinguished carving family.
Original paint with light gunning war, faint age line on left side, and an original indent to right tip of bill.
Literature: Bernie Gates, "Ontario Decoys II," Kingston, ON, 1986, front and back cover, related teal illustrated.
PINTAIL DRAKEWilbur R. Corwin (1852-1914)PINTAIL DRAKEWilbur R. Corwin (1852-1914) (attr.)
Bellport, Long Island, NY, c. 1875
19 in. long
An extremely hollow decoy with a slightly turned head.
Working repaint with heavy gunning wear.
Provenance: Way Way Yonder Gunning Club Rig, Babylon, New York
Ronald S. Swanson Collection
Private Collection
Literature: Paul A. Johnsgard, "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form," Lincoln, NE, 1976, p. 46, rigmate illustrated.
PINCH-BREAST PINTAIL DRAKEThe Ward Brothers
LemuelPINCH-BREAST PINTAIL DRAKEThe Ward Brothers
Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976)
Crisfield, MD, c. 1932
18 1/2 in. long
A rare pinch-breast model pintail from the rig of aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin (1886-1995). Regarding the pinch-breast pintail, Gard and McGrath state, "The design is considered the best in Ward pintails and is valued with that of earlier Ward styles."
Original paint with heavy gunning wear, roughness to head, and an original crack in back.
Provenance: Glenn L. Martin Rig
Ronald S. Swanson Collection
Private Collection
Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Plano, TX, 1989, pp. 57-63, related examples illustrated.
Ronald Swanson, “The Decoy as Folk Sculpture,” Cranbrook Academy of Art Exhibition Catalog, January 1987, p. 29, fig. 43 (2nd from right), exact decoy illustrated.
Exhibited: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, “The Decoy as Folk Sculpture,” Cranbrook Academy of Art, January 27-February 22, 1987.
ONE DOZEN DECOYSIncluded is a CrisfieldONE DOZEN DECOYSIncluded is a Crisfield pintail drake, a Crisfield black duck, two New Jersey brant, a New Jersey merganser, a Delaware River black duck, a Wildfowler bufflehead, Wildfowler black duck, a canvasback, a contemporary shorebird, a silhouette shorebird, and an Upper Bay miniature sinkbox canvasback.
As found.
Provenance: The Estate of Ann Dickinson Dale
PINTAIL DRAKEBenjamin S. Schmidt (1884-1968)PINTAIL DRAKEBenjamin S. Schmidt (1884-1968) (attr.)
Centerline, MI, c. 1930
15 in. long
The turned-head carving displays incised feather detail and a rasp-finished.
Original paint with even gunning wear, including a hairline crack at top of bill and a tail chip which has been darkened.
Provenance: Estate of A. Michael Prus
PINTAIL DRAKECrisfield, MD, c. 1930
19PINTAIL DRAKECrisfield, MD, c. 1930
19 in. long
Working repaint with moderate gunning wear, including reset bill and neck cracks.
FIVE MINIATURE SOUTHERN WATERFOWLReggieFIVE MINIATURE SOUTHERN WATERFOWLReggie Birch (b. 1953)
Chincoteague, VA, c. 2010
reaching pintail is 7 1/2 in. long
Two pintail drakes, one pintail pair, and a wood duck drake. All but the smaller humpback pintail exhibit the maker's incised signature on the bottoms.
Original paint with light wear.
Provenance: Michael Boxer Collection
ROLAND H. CLARK (1874-1957)Two DerrydaleROLAND H. CLARK (1874-1957)Two Derrydale Prints
each hand-colored aquatint, 20 by 15 1/2 in.
"The Scout - Mallard Drake," 1938
edition of 250
"Down Wind - Pintail Drake"
signed "Roland Clark" lower right
edition 70 of 250
each published and copyrighted by The Derrydale Press, New York
Provenance: Private Collection, Wisconsin
EARLY PINTAIL DRAKECharles Bergman (1856-1946)
Astoria,EARLY PINTAIL DRAKECharles Bergman (1856-1946)
Astoria, OR, c. 1925
21 in. long
Charles Bergman is perhaps the best known decoy carver in the Astoria area. A Finn by birth, he immigrated to the United States by jumping ship in San Francisco when he was a first mate on a clipper. He carved decoys for his own use as well as professionally. This long and hollow decoy features highly stylized feathering on the back.
Original paint with moderate gunning wear, a tight neck crack, and traces of working touch-up to white neck stripe.
Provenance: Richard and Dorothy Wheeler Collection
Literature: Michael R. Miller and Frederick W. Hanson, "Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Portland, OR, 1989, p. 79, related carving illustrated.
LOS BANOS PINTAIL DRAKELos Banos, CA,LOS BANOS PINTAIL DRAKELos Banos, CA, c. 1925
17 1/2 in. long
This decoy hails from an elite group by a highly celebrated, yet unknown maker. They have been referred to as the "Los Banos Unknowns" nodding to the original location of their discovery. More flatteringly, they are known as "West Coast Dudleys."
West Coast author Michael Miller introduces this exact decoy and others like it as "... some of the finest duck decoys ever made in California..." This decoy was found with only four other drakes. Though he states that "the white areas have been repainted," this example is in 100% original paint from bill tip to tail tip.
A bold carving with pronounced incised feather and tail detail. The drawn back head features full cheeks and a thin neck with elaborate paint.
Original paint with light gunning wear.
Provenance: Richard and Dorothy Wheeler Collection
Literature: Michael R. Miller, "Wildfowl Decoys of California,” Spokane, WA, 2015, p. 568, exact decoy illustrated twice.
IMPORTANT PINTAIL DRAKEAndrew A. TullIMPORTANT PINTAIL DRAKEAndrew A. Tull (1840-1915)
Philadelphia, PA, c. 1856
17 1/2 in. long
An exceptional Delaware River pintail drake, this example is a regional archetype quite distinct in form from other celebrated and later Delaware River pintail peers. This decoy is debuting in the modern decoy market after having resided in the Alberta Wingate family of Philadelphia for generations. Dating back to 1856 or prior, it is one of the earliest Philadelphia decoys known to exist.
The maker of this decoy has been inaccurately identified as John Blair by Henry Fleckenstein Jr. in his "New Jersey Decoys" book and by Harrison Huster and Doug Knight in "Floating Sculpture."
However, early decoy historians Bob White and Hal Sorenson were on the right trail when they discussed a closely related A Tull pintail in the 1977 "Decoy Collector's Guide," captioning, “This beautiful pintail drake from the lower Delaware River has “1856” stamped in the weight. It would well be a fore-runner to the “Blair” style.” Fellow Delaware River decoy legend Kenneth Gosner in 1985 gravitated towards White and Sorenson’s assessment when discussing an “A Tull” branded pintail in his Delaware River decoy treatise, writing, “obviously related to the Blair tradition and possibly predating the classic style.” Research by noted Delaware River decoy collector Jeff Martinides follows White, Sorenson, and Gosner’s beliefs as he points out that John Blair does not appear to land on the shores of America until 1865 — almost a decade after an “A Tull 1856” decoy was stamped.
In 2014 Russ Allen lifted the veil on the Tull mystery when he researched a pattern-making family from the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Andrew J. Tull was the son of John P. Tull. The 1860 U.S. Federal Census Report lists Andrew as following in his father’s footsteps as a pattern designer. Tull’s occupation as a pattern maker explains the beautiful lines and exacting construction of this decoy.
Though research on Andrew Tull is still ongoing, we know that on January 18th, 1863, Andrew married Emma Mathews, also of Philadelphia. Shortly thereafter, on April 1, 1864, at the age of twenty-two, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the vessel "Chicopee" as a firefighter.
In reviewing this Tull pintail lot, its sleek, hollow body draws to a long and sharply pointed tail which resolves with crisp chines on both the top and sides. The raised neck seat secures a slightly forward-reaching head with refined bill and eye groove carving. The underside is fitted with two small lead weights, one with the region's classic chamfers. The body is finished with exceptional and dynamic feather painting with a tight craquelure patina. The lively and well-executed feather painting technique stands out in a city known for its fine plumage representations. The paint on this bird is by far the best found on any Tull.
L-shaped cut nails revealed in this decoy circa 1860 are rare, and typically only found in the finest and earliest decoys, including the dove-tailed decoys and Osgood geese.
Exceptional early gunning paint with even wear and a minor chip under the bill tip.
Provenance: Alberta Wingate Collection, Philadelphia
Robert Brown, Philadelphia
Private Collection by descent from the above
Literature: Hal Sorensen, "The Blair Mystery," Decoy Collector's Guide, 1977, p. 74, Tull pintail illustrated.
Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Decoys of the Mid-Atlantic Region," Exton, PA, 1979, p. 59, Tull decoy illustrated.
H. Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculptures: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982, pp. 38-39, Tull decoys illustrated.
Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "New Jersey Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 231, related Tull decoy illustrated.
Russ Allen, “Arthur Bartholomew Vance and the ‘Philadelphia School’,” Decoy Magazine, May/June 2014, pp. 2431, related Tull decoys illustrated.
Hal Sorenson, "Decoy Collector's Guide,” 1977, pp. 74-78, related Tull decoys illustrated.
Kenneth L. Gosner, “Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and Delaware Valley,” Cranbury, NJ, 1985, p. 84, related Tull carvings illustrated.
WATERFOWLING SANTA CLAUSFrank S. FinneyWATERFOWLING SANTA CLAUSFrank S. Finney (b. 1947)
Capeville, VA, 1983
28 in. tall
This carving depicts legendary 20th-century decoy collector and dealer Bud Ward as Santa Claus laden with treasures.
The smiling figure holds out a Ward Brothers 1936 blue-winged teal hen, and is wearing five duck calls. His pockets contain a bottle of spirits and a box of Winchester shotgun shells. The sack on the back shows portions of a signed Ward 1936 pintail drake, a Cobb hissing goose, and a Caines snakey-neck mallard hen, as well as what appears to be a Browning A-5 shotgun.
The entire surface is finished with a lightly antiqued finish. The grain-painted base wishes a painted "Seasons Greetings." An applied wooden placard reads, "Bud Ward as Santa" and the maker's "Frank Finney" incised signature. The underside is also signed and dated.
Excellent original paint with some wear. Teal has a reset bill and has been reset to hand.
(LOT OF 8) PAINTED WOOD DUCK DECOY GROUP(LOT OF 8) PAINTED WOOD DUCK DECOY GROUP (lot of 8) Painted wood duck decoy group, makers include Hornick Bros., Canadian Hen by Harry Jobe, Robert Kelly Pintail Drake, a Redhead Hen by Lisa Byrd, a Zack Ward example, largest 6"h x 17"l Provenance: Menlo Park Estate
W.L. GABLE DATED PINTAIL DRAKE MINIATUREW.L. GABLE DATED PINTAIL DRAKE MINIATURE DECOY.Signed W.L. Gable (William L. Gable, Lancaster, PA) Dated Pintail Drake Miniature Decoy. Dated 8/13/83. 10"l. Very good.
Condition:
Very good.
R. MADISON MITCHELL PINTAIL DRAKE DECOYR. MADISON MITCHELL PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY DATED 1973.R. Madison Mitchell Pintail Drake Decoy Dated 1973. (Havre de Grace, MD). Painted in natural colors. Signed "R. Madison Mitchell, 1973 on bottom. 19"l. Condition: : Very good with minor wear.
Condition:
Condition: : Very good with minor wear.
WARD BROTHERS PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY, CRISFIELD,WARD BROTHERS PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY, CRISFIELD, MARYLAND,...Ward Brothers Pintail Drake Decoy, Crisfield, Maryland, 1948, original paint, turned head (worn), desirable model, signed "Steve and Leon Ward", (crack on left side near bottom and seam separation rear right, small crack on the back with paint loss.) length 18 inches, width 7 1/2 inches. Provenance: The Estate of Diana Atwood Johnson
Condition:
All lots are sold "AS IS" The condition of lots can vary widely and are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. *No credit card payments will be accepted for silver, gold, or jewelry from buyers that have not purchased from our gallery in the past.
FOUR PAINTED DUCK DECOYSAmerican, 20thFOUR PAINTED DUCK DECOYSAmerican, 20th century, comprising: painted decoy inscribed "Wildfowler Decoys Babylon, NY Pintail Drake"; large example with brown decoration; two small examples; largest 19 in.
Provenance: Private Bluffton, South Carolina Collection
Condition:
each with moderate losses to painted decoration, scratching, age splits
FOUR DUCK DECOYS TO INCLUDE EARLY BLACKFOUR DUCK DECOYS TO INCLUDE EARLY BLACK DUCK PROBABLY N...Four Duck Decoys to include early black duck probably New Jersey; Wildfowler Pintail Drake Old Saybrook Factory nicely mellowed with original paint; Mallard Drake having cork body wear to left tail area with original paint; Early Mason Black Duck missing eye, repainted, rare form, original rigging largest in length 17 1/2 inches.
Condition:
All lots are sold "AS IS" The condition of lots can vary widely and are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. *No credit card payments will be accepted for silver, gold, or jewelry from buyers that have not purchased from our gallery in the past.
TWO SIGNED DUCK DECOYScomprising: JohnTWO SIGNED DUCK DECOYScomprising: John Baker pintail drake, Bristol, Pennsylvania, 20th century, original paint with minor wear, raised primaries, glass eyes, weight stamped, 7-3/4 x 22-1/2 x 5-1/4 in.; Decoys Unlimited (Jack Sweet) sleeping black duck, Erie, Pennsylvania, mid 20th century, laminated Balsa, nice head stippling and feather strokes on back and sides, glass eyes, original white Wattsburg Road stencil on base, 6-1/2 x 15-1/2 x 7-1/4 in.
Condition:
pintail: repaired break at neck, minor chipping and paint loss, yellowing of varnish, surface anomaly with paint bubbling and retouch on right side, possible fill and retouch on breast, surface dirt; black duck: exaggerated separation at base of neck as made, minor paint losses, paint runs on left shoulder apparently as made, scuffs and chips, dents at tail and on left shoulder
ROLAND CLARK, PAIR SIGNED DUCK PRINTSROLAND CLARK, PAIR SIGNED DUCK PRINTS Roland Clark (American, 1874-1957), "Down Wind, Pintail Drake" and "Sanctuary, Green Wing Teal", 1937 and 1938, lithographs on paper, published by Derrydale Press, each pencil signed and numbered (208/250), 25.5"h x 19.5"w (sight), 27"h x 21"w (frame)
SEVEN PAINTED DUCK DECOYSAll brandedSEVEN PAINTED DUCK DECOYSAll branded with The Wooden Bird Factory logo, signed, titled and dated. Comprising: a Mallard Drake painted by N. Winter, 1980; a Wood Duck Drake painted by M. Scalette, 1979; a Ruddy Duck painted by P. Poquette, 1980; and with a Pintail Drake, a Teal Drake, a Mallard and a Wood Duck. Length smallest to largest 7 in. to 16.5 in.
THREE BYRON BRUFFEE DECOY CARVINGS MIDDLEBORO,THREE BYRON BRUFFEE DECOY CARVINGS MIDDLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, 20TH CENTURY LENGTHS FROM 16” TO 22”.THREE BYRON BRUFFEE DECOY CARVINGS, Middleboro, Massachusetts, 20th Century, A preening goose, a curlew, and a preening pintail drake. Dimensions: Lengths from 16" to 22".
LOU REINERI PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY CHINCOTEAGUE,LOU REINERI PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY CHINCOTEAGUE, VIRGINIA, 20TH CENTURY LENGTH 16”.LOU REINERI PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY, Chincoteague, Virginia, 20th Century, In the style of the Ward Brothers. Dimensions: Length 16".
BYRON BRUFEE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY MIDDLEBORO,BYRON BRUFEE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY MIDDLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, 20TH CENTURY LENGTH 14".BYRON BRUFEE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY, Middleboro, Massachusetts, 20th Century, Dimensions: Length 14".
GROUP OF SEVEN JAMES J. AHEARN MINIATUREGROUP OF SEVEN JAMES J. AHEARN MINIATURE WATERFOWL STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, 1904-1963 LENGTHS FROM 4” TO 5.5”.GROUP OF SEVEN JAMES J. AHEARN MINIATURE WATERFOWL, Stamford, Connecticut, 1904-1963, Circa 1930. All in flying form. Includes a pair of baldpates, a pair of mallards, a pair of pintails and a green-winged teal drake. All but the pintail drake are signed under the wings "J Ahearn". Dimensions: Lengths from 4" to 5.5".
THREE ROBERT AND VIRGINIA WARFIELD MINIATURETHREE ROBERT AND VIRGINIA WARFIELD MINIATURE BIRD CARVINGS 20TH CENTURY HEIGHTS 10”, 6”, AND 8”.THREE ROBERT AND VIRGINIA WARFIELD MINIATURE BIRD CARVINGS, 20th Century, A pintail drake, a grouse and a Canada goose with its young. Mounted on driftwood bases. Dimensions: Heights 10", 6", and 8".
BEN HEINEMANN DECORATIVE PINTAIL DRAKEBEN HEINEMANN DECORATIVE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, 20TH/21ST CENTURY LENGTH 18”.BEN HEINEMANN DECORATIVE PINTAIL DRAKE DECOY, Durham, North Carolina, 20th/21st Century, Glass eyes. Raised feathers. Dimensions: Length 18".
SEVEN WILLIAM REINBOLD MINIATURE WATERFOWLSEVEN WILLIAM REINBOLD MINIATURE WATERFOWL CARVINGS LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA, 20TH CENTURY LENGTHS FROM 3” TO 4”.SEVEN WILLIAM REINBOLD MINIATURE WATERFOWL CARVINGS, Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, 20th Century, Two bufflehead drakes, a redhead drake, a green-winged teal drake, a mallard drake, a shoveler drake, and a pintail drake. All signed "Reinbold" on underside. Dimensions: Lengths from 3" to 4".
TWO BYRON BRUFFEE DECOYS MIDDLEBOROUGH,TWO BYRON BRUFFEE DECOYS MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, 20TH CENTURY LENGTHS 24” AND 16”.TWO BYRON BRUFFEE DECOYS, Middleborough, Massachusetts, 20th Century, A Lincoln-style Canada goose and a Crowell-style pintail drake. Dimensions: Lengths 24" and 16".
STAN SPARRE FLATTIE-FORM PINTAIL DRAKESTAN SPARRE FLATTIE-FORM PINTAIL DRAKE FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, 20TH CENTURY LENGTHS 13" AND 16”.STAN SPARRE FLATTIE-FORM PINTAIL DRAKE, Falmouth, Massachusetts, 20th Century, Together with a decorative willet signed "R.H. Moeller 1969". Pintail is chip-carved and has tack eyes. Dimensions: Lengths 13" and 16".
THREE SIGNED DUCK DECOYS To include:THREE SIGNED DUCK DECOYS To include: a northern pintail by T. J. Hooker of Ducks Unlimited, limited edition, 1985-86, stamped to underside (8 1/4 x 17 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.); the smaller pintail drake by David C. Berari (Ortonville, Michigan), naturalistically carved, 1987, signed to underside (6 3/8 x 15 x 5 1/2 in.); a mallard by Ken Hopkins (Olympia, Washington), 1983, signed and dated to underside (6 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.).