1936 Canvasback Hen Decoy, The Ward Brothers

Lot 69

About Seller

65 Sharp Street
Hingham, MA 02043
United States

Copley Fine Art Auctions is the world's leading American sporting art auction company. Located in Hingham, MA, Copley specializes in antique decoys and 19th- and 20th-century American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Principal Stephen O'Brien Jr., a fourth-generation sportsman with a refined colle...Read more

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About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 14, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-07-14 10:00:00 2022-07-14 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2022-day-1-9460 Lots 1-332 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (332)

Lot Description

1936 Canvasback Hen
The Ward Brothers
Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976)
Crisfield, MD, 1936
16 in. long

Finding Ward hens in good condition from this era is incredibly difficult. This Ward 1936 canvasback is an American bird decoy classic. The full body, with a humped back and superb surface, places it among the best Ward hen canvasbacks known.

The underside bears both of the Ward brothers' signatures, Lem's inked inscription "1936 L. T. Ward - Bro.,” and William H. Purnell’s “P” brand. Bill Purnell is a highly-respected Southern decoy collector, with many of the top decoys from Virginia and Maryland having passed through his hands.
Original paint with gunning wear, some minor touch-up to original reset bill, some possible touch-up to neck putty, repair to chip on left edge of tail, and a crack along underside.

Provenance: William H. Purnell Jr. Collection
Private Collection

Literature: Copley Fine Art Auctions, “The Donal C. O’Brien Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys, Sessions I-II,” July 27, 2017, p. 112, lot 40, related decoy illustrated. Glenn Lawson, "The Story of Lem Ward," West Chester, PA, 1984, p. 49, related decoy illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, pp. 76-77, related decoy illustrated. Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "Ward Brothers’ Decoys: A Collector’s Guide," Wolf City, TX, 1989, pl. 15, related decoy illustrated. Lemuel T. Ward Jr. and Paul Shertz, "The Decoys of Lem and Steve Ward," printed by Phototype Engraving, Philadelphia, PA, 1978, related decoy illustrated.

Condition

Please email condition report requests to colin@copleyart.com. Any condition statement given is a courtesy to customers, Copley will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition.
Shipping Info
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