Alighting Tern, A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)

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The Sporting Sale 2020

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 23, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-07-23 10:00:00 2020-07-23 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2020 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2020-5244
Copley Fine Art Auctions The Sporting Sale 2020 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Alighting Tern
  A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
  East Harwich, MA, c. 1930
  19 1/2 in. wingspan
  
  An exceedingly rare and possibly unique, life-size tern with extended wings measuring nineteen-and-one-half inches from wing tip to wing tip. Crowell, like many people today, had an affinity for these expert hovering fishermen, creating this wooden homage to their beauty. It was his interpretive ability to capture the likeness of birds and waterfowl that defined him as one of America's greatest carvers. Crowell used this expansive carving as an elaborate canvas to showcase his unmatched painting abilities. The artist used all four surfaces of the broad wings to display his exceptional wet-on-wet feather blending. The forked tail is finished with incised feather carving. The underside of the base bears the maker’s rectangular stamp. In "A Sportsman's Scrapbook," Dr. John C. Phillips talks about Crowell's creations: "Elmer used to decorate Wenham Camp with all sorts of mythical looking birds, whittled out and suspended from the ceiling so that they revolved solemnly around if you blew a puff of smoke their way." While Crowell’s flying terns, as discussed by his patron Dr. Phillips, are rare, even less common is this model, which is mounted on a base. Indeed, we are honored to introduce this decorative as the first of its kind to enter the modern marketplace.
  Excellent original paint with minimal wear, one side of tail is reset with touch-up and the other side of the tail is restored.
  
  Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, p. 38, flying example illustrated, pp. 198-199, terns on bases illustrated.
  John C. Phillips, "A Sportman's Scrapbook," Boston, MA, 1928, p. 33.

  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.
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  • Shipping info

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