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THBBishops Head Canada Goose Decoy, The Ward Brothers
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
LiveFeb 15, 2020
Charleston Marriott, 170 Lockwood Blvd., Charleston, SC 29403 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (533)
- Lot Description
Bishops Head Canada Goose
The Ward Brothers
Lemuel T. (1896-1983) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1941
27 1/4 in. long
together with a framed L.T. Ward & Bro. "Counterfeiters in Wood" print, 1978, 27 1/2 by 32 in.
A classic and distinct goose decoy made for the Bishops Head Gun Club. This group of decoys was the result of the owner of the club, Colonel Albanus Phillips (1871-1949), and the Ward brothers sitting down and designing wooden replacements for his live goose decoys. This product of their collaboration exhibits additional carved bill detail and a long-reaching neck, portraying a goose swimming. The Wards appear to have maintained a relationship with the club, providing additional decoys and maintenance to the rig over time. A related decoy is featured in the “Hundred Greatest” book. Of the numerous goose patterns produced by the Ward brothers, the Bishops Head Gun Club model is the most popular. This swimming goose displays articulated bill and full cheek carving and a graceful profile that finishes with a pronounced paddle tail. This exact decoy is prominently featured front and center in the famous 1978 Shertz print, titled "The Decoys of Lem and Steve Ward," which showcased the brothers' "11 favorite working decoy models." The underside bears the date "1941," the signature of Lem Ward, the inscription "This goose is on Shertz's Print," and the "MK" brand designating the Kramer Collection.
This exact decoy is also illustrated in Gard and McGrath’s Ward monograph in which they describe its “long notch or groove behind the head similar to the fathead design.” They also point out that “the bird has extraordinary detail carving on the head” and that “the goose is painted beautifully.” Indeed, Lem applied fine feathering and wing-tip detail.
Finding a Bishops Head goose is a true rarity for both the collector of Wards and collectors of all regions.
In strong original paint with even gunning wear, working touch-up to bill tip chips, faint white paint spatter on back, and an age line at neck seam.
Provenance: Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection, acquired in 1976
Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Plano, TX, 1989, pp. 108-112, pl. 101, exact decoy illustrated.
Glenn Lawson, "The Story of Lem Ward," West Chester, PA, 1984, p. 104, exact decoy illustrated.
Loy S. Harrell Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, pp. 174-175, related example illustrated.
Bob Ridges, "Decoy Ducks," New York, NY, 1988, p. 157, exact decoy illustrated.
Lemuel T. Ward Jr. and Paul Shertz, "The Decoys of Lem and Steve Ward," printed by Phototype Engraving, Philadelphia, PA, 1978, exact decoy illustrated.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.Condition
- Shipping Info
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Copley Fine Art Auctions does not handle the shipping of any items. Shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer. Once your payment has cleared and we have received your authorized shipping release form items may be released for shipment. Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC shall have no liability for any loss or damage to such items. Buyers should allow up to four weeks for shipment. Please email info@copleyart.com for a shipping form. Please be aware that internet bidders may NOT not pick up their items at the sale. Items will be available for pick up by appointment or by shippers five days after the sale.
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